Sunday 13^th July, 2025

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4: 31-32, Matthew 6: 14-15

Memory Verse: Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

1. Forgiveness is a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or anger towards someone who has wronged you, rather than holding onto negative emotions. 

2. Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious and voluntary process of changing feelings and attitudes towards someone who has harmed you, allowing you to overcome the impact of the offense. 

3. Forgiveness doesn’t mean condoning or approving of the wrongdoing, nor does it mean forgetting what happened. 

4. Forgiveness is primarily about freeing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment, rather than about the offender’s actions. Forgiveness is a personal choice to move forward, rather than being held back by negative emotions. 

5. Forgiveness is a process, not an event. It might take some time to work through our emotional problems before we can truly totally forgive. Forgiveness is often a gradual process, not an immediate event, and may involve working through emotions and reflecting on the situation.

6. Bitterness and resentment are the negative emotions that arise from feeling wronged and refusing to let go of those feelings. 

7. Forgiveness involves intentionally letting go of anger, bitterness, and the desire for revenge or retribution. 

8. Forgiveness can lead to emotional peace, reduced stress, and a sense of freedom from the control of the person who wronged you. 

9. Forgiveness is often a gradual process, not an immediate event, and may involve working through emotions and reflecting on the situation. 

10. The concept of forgiveness is central to Christian teachings, rooted in the idea that God forgives humanity’s sins (Matthew 6:14-15)

Quote: To forgive is to set a prisoner free in your heart and discover that the prisoner was you.

Prophetic Decree: Every stronghold of unforgiveness in your heart crumble, in Jesus name. 

Prayer Focus

1. I receive grace to accept the forgiveness of God for all my sins and shortcomings, in Jesus name. 

2. Holy Spirit, please remove every root of bitterness and pain from my heart, in Jesus name. 

3. Holy Spirit, perform a surgical operation in my heart today, in Jesus name. 

4. I receive grace to let go of all past pain, resentment, and bitterness, in Jesus name. 

5. I receive grace to make a personal choice and free myself from the burden of anger and resentment, rather than ruminating about the offender’s actions. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12