Supernatural Help To Forgiveness

I remember reading an article that stated a large percentage (could not locate the number) of people in mental institutions could be released if they only knew they were forgiven. People can be set free from guilt if they knew they were forgiven. They could overcome all sorts of harmful emotions, if they knew they were forgiven.

Forgiveness brings healing to damaged relationships. It is a fact of life that all of us have been sinned against. All of us have suffered wrong from the hands of others. But the other side of the coin is we have all hurt others ourselves. Romans 3:23 But forgiveness is critical in every relationship.

Think about it. God made us alive together with him by forgiving us! Forgiveness is God’s recipe for fresh starts. After all, it’s how he started you and me over again. He made us new in Christ, where old things passed away and all things became new 2 Cor. 5:17 He transformed us into brand new, born-again, righteous beings by forgiving us.

In fact, God’s way of dealing with mankind is forgiveness. It’s his go-to reaction with human beings and his very nature! In Isaiah 43:25, he says, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” God never has unforgiveness in his relationship with you. Never.

The good news is that as born-again Christians, we have God’s very nature inside of us, so we’ve not only been forgiven, but have the capacity to forgive. We just need God’s supernatural help to do it! As we soak our spirits in God’s Word, it gives us the strength we need to do things God’s way.

But even though we have supernatural help, forgiveness is our choice. God has created us with our own will and freedom to choose. In Deuteronomy, he says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (30:19). He does give us a clue when he says, “Choose life!” But it’s always our choice.

Later, we see Joshua exercising his own right to choose: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

God won’t ever make you forgive; it’s your choice. The good news is that he’s standing by, ready to help. He just wants you to want to forgive. When you ask for his help, he’s right there to supernaturally put you over.