Mat 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins .
As Jesus was teaching on basic prayer formula ,He emphasized on the need to seek forgiveness from God . But a two way traffic requirement was presented where, for one to be forgiven by God,forgiving others who have wronged him or her is a must . Forgiveness is a christian virtue that many find difficult to practise. Jesus made it clear that if you forgive, you shall be forgiven and if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses.
Psychologists define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness or not .By so doing the forgiver attains peace of mind and frees him or her from corrosive anger. The act that hurt or offended you might always be with you, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help free you from the control of the person who harmed you.It results in a feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you (Mayoclinic).
Brethren , let’s lessen the pain and resentments embedded in our heart due to failure of letting go and letting God forgive us. Our daily prayers might be hovering above our heads waiting for such a time when we forgive others. May God give us grace to let go.
Further readings:
Mat 18:21-22
Col 3:13
Eph 4:31-32
🙏 Blessed Day 🙏