Release the Offender

If we are to truly experience forgiveness in our life, we must be willing to release the offender ~ easier said than done in some cases! If you can picture your unforgiveness as a tight hold you have on the other person; a firm grip that you want to cause pain or even a noose around their neck....there needs to be a conscious act of releasing.

The following is an excerpt from the book, How to Forgive When You Don't Feel Like It.....
To forgive means to release your resentment toward your offender. In the New Testament, the Greek verb aphiemi primarily means -"to send away, to forgive or release the penalty when someone wrongs you." This implies that you need to release your right to hear "I'm sorry," to release your right to be bitter, to release your right to get even. The Bible says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."(Romans 12:17)

To forgive is to release your rights regarding the offense. This means to release your right to dwell on this offense, to release your right to hold on to the offense, to release your right to keep bringing up the offense. The book of Proverbs says it well: "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." (Proverbs 17:9)

Is the act of releasing/forgiving just a one time thing? Jesus answered - "How often should I forgive someone who sins against me?....Not seven times, but seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT) You will know you have released your offender when you can think about them and it doesn't hurt anymore. When you can pray for God's blessing on their life. This may take years of daily releasing, depending on how deep the hurt is. Forgiving them does not mean you allow them to keep hurting you! It doesn't mean going back into an abusive or dangerous relationship. But it does mean that you must release those who have hurt you so you can be healed personally. Remember, you are doing this for your own sake, not for others!

I could ask you to list all the benefits (emotional, physical, spiritual) you have received from holding onto unforgiveness, but I don't think you'd have much to list. Release the grip you have on your offender(s) today and move on to a life of healing and freedom!