Jesus says:  Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6,9-13
Many times we have written about the importance  of forgiveness for all who have sinned against us (see the devotion of 25.01.2017).  The damage they have done to our lives and the unrighteousness is indisputable.  And yet Jesus advises us to forgive, as He has forgiven.
He knows us.  He knows how we are ruled by self pity, the need for revenge, self righteousness and bitterness, and He knows how easily these can break us.  All are the result of not being able to forgive.  Someone sins against us and we take it to heart, constantly thinking about it.  How are we supposed to become joyful and free if this is the case?  Our old ego moans and complains, seeks revenge, is self righteous, full of self pity and bitterness.
We need to make a renewed decision:  who is our Lord?  Jesus or debt?  Who rules us?  Who dictates our thinking?  What are the topics of our monologues?  What determines us and our reactions?
Jesus forgave.  Even when He was crowned with thorns and flogged.  Even when nails were driven through His hands and feet.  Even when He was mercilessly crucified.  He said:  Father forgive them, for they  do not realise what they are doing!
In Corinth a man was deeply in debt.  And there was much fighting and slander, especially against Paul.  But he made the decision to forgive.  And he states as follows:  “Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.” So, it is Satan who wants to outwit us!  He wants to tie us down with bitterness, lies, self pity and all that is bad.  No,  we have seen through him!  We prefer to do as Jesus did and make the decision to forgive!  Then God can heal our hearts of the pain.
Satan is called the accuser of brothers.  And that is indeed what he is.  Often through lies and slander, but at times also through actual occurrences.  One accuses the other.  And that is to the enjoyment of Satan, the confuser, the liar and deceiver.  And we always fall for it!  “In this case it is what it is, there are no excuses, there is no forgiveness, no, the truth needs to be told, loud and clear!”
Jesus knows other ways.  He does not want us to be the axis around which the earth revolves, around which everything revolves.  He, and He alone, is the axis around which the earth revolves.  Please, make the right decision!  Give your hurts and pain to Him!  Forgive, for Jesus’ sake!  Then He can come and comfort you, heal you.  Good riddance to bitterness and revenge. They are no longer necessary!!
Thank You Jesus, for freeing me from bitterness and revenge!  You are the God who takes care of me:  I forgive, and You help me to forgive.  You make all my wrongs right again, because You love me!
Bible study for today:  Genesis 10