The Power of Forgiveness

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

I heard a statement on the television a little while ago. It said "The power of forgiveness defeats fear."

In my opinion the power of forgiveness defeats not only fear, but a multitude of other things. To name a few there is: bitterness, anger, hate, retaliation. I know this from personal experience. When our seventeen-year-old daughter was abducted, and murdered, we were quick to offer forgiveness to the man that committed the crime.

It began in the heart of my husband, Jeff. He spoke the words to the detectives, and when those words hit my ears I knew it was a life/death choice. I could choose to forgive and have a life that would include peace, and the knowledge that I too was forgiven for many things. Or I could choose to not forgive and be filled with anger, hatred, malice, un-forgiveness, bitterness, and myriad other things.

Neither choice would bring Liz back to us, but knowing that we were not harboring un-forgiveness gave us great freedom. It has remained true for nearly ten years. Never once has it wavered or changed. I know for a fact that never once has Jesus regretted dying on the cross for our sins, so that we could receive forgiveness. And I can honestly say that, never once have we regretted our choice of forgiveness to the man that took our daughter's life.

The power of forgiveness has defeated not only fear, but it has released me from being an angry, bitter, defeated woman. I am perhaps unusual, but I am better for my choice.

Dear Father, help me to always be willing to forgive, so that I may be forgiven and saved from so many things. Amen

Becki Reiser