Weight training can contribute big benefits to a healthy heart. Most of us talk about losing weight in some manner or another. Don’t we? Consider that there is a different weight we can carry that can weigh us down … unforgiveness. We may feel the weight of it every day spiritually, emotionally and physically. Let’s talk about losing the weight of unforgiveness. The Bible teaches us about every person needing forgiveness and every person needing to forgive. Why? Because we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. No one is perfect. He knew that. That’s why He came. We need God’s mercy and we need to extend that same mercy to others. This is the very real meaning of true biblical love. The Bible teaches us that when someone hurts us, we are under an obligation to God to forgive that person. Jesus is very clear on this point:
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesus doesn’t expect something of us that He doesn’t also give us the grace to accomplish! He experienced all the emotional pain of abuse, betrayal, unfairness, and disregard that we may have given or received. But by embracing forgiveness, you will also embrace peace, gratitude, joy and a weight lifted. Consider how forgiveness can lead you down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The weight of unforgiveness is going to be a burden that will slow you down. You can choose like I did to let that weight go and lighten your load. Ahhh, a lighter load! Isn’t that something we all want! You will be surprised how good it feels after you give the weight to God and through Him forgive. The burden you are carrying will be lifted and you will be able to move on running, skipping and jumping! Sometimes we may need encouragement to offer forgiveness. Through this Fruit of Forgiveness website we can help you “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1).
How about you? Have others hurt you? Have you hurt someone and want to make it right?
