5 days
Learning to Forgive
Five days toward releasing a grievance, at the pace grace allows.
Day 1
As God forgave you
32And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32WEBRead in contextRead the full chapter World English Bible
Reflection
Forgiveness flows from grace received, not grievance earned.
A guided prayer inspired by today's Scripture
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you just as I am. You have forgiven us in Christ, and you free us to forgive others. Would you soften my heart and give me the willingness to release what still weighs heavy. I place this in your hands and choose to trust you with what I cannot control. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Faithful action
Name the hurt honestly, without minimizing it.
Day 2
Bear with each other
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
Colossians 3:13WEBRead in contextRead the full chapter World English Bible
Reflection
Patience makes room to forgive as we have been forgiven.
A guided prayer inspired by today's Scripture
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you just as I am. You have forgiven us in Christ, and you free us to forgive others. Would you soften my heart and give me the willingness to release what still weighs heavy. I place this in your hands and choose to trust you with what I cannot control. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Faithful action
Ask God for willingness you don’t yet feel.
Day 3
Forgive, and be forgiven
14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15WEBRead in contextRead the full chapter World English Bible
Reflection
Our forgiving and being forgiven are deeply linked.
A guided prayer inspired by today's Scripture
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you just as I am. You have forgiven us in Christ, and you free us to forgive others. Would you soften my heart and give me the willingness to release what still weighs heavy. I place this in your hands and choose to trust you with what I cannot control. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Faithful action
Release one small debt someone owes you.
Day 4
Seventy times seven
21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22WEBRead in contextRead the full chapter World English Bible
Reflection
Forgiveness is a road we walk again and again, not once.
A guided prayer inspired by today's Scripture
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you just as I am. You have forgiven us in Christ, and you free us to forgive others. Would you soften my heart and give me the willingness to release what still weighs heavy. I place this in your hands and choose to trust you with what I cannot control. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Faithful action
Forgive the same wound again today if it resurfaces.
Day 5
Set free
37Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.
Luke 6:37WEBRead in contextRead the full chapter World English Bible
Reflection
To release another is also to be released ourselves.
A guided prayer inspired by today's Scripture
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you just as I am. Your word says you leave your peace with us, a peace the world cannot give. Would you quiet my anxious thoughts and steady me with your presence today. I place this in your hands and choose to trust you with what I cannot control. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Faithful action
Pray a blessing over the person who hurt you.