Topic: The Importance of Forgiving Quickly [Joyce Meyer Devotional 3 July 2021]

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… Love…is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].— 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMPC)

Love forgives; it does not hold a grudge. It is not touchy, easily offended, nor is it fretful or resentful. Some people get their feelings hurt about everything. It is very difficult to be in a relationship with people like this. We have many opportunities every day to get offended; each time we must make a choice. If we choose to live by our feelings, we will never succeed in this all-important facet of love.

If we don’t forgive quickly, but instead keep records of how others have hurt us, sooner or later the list will get so long that we can no longer be in relationship with these people. That kind of resentment is a part of what causes many divorces. If we can learn this important facet of love and abide by it, we’ll save ourselves—and others—tremendous pain and damage to our relationships.

By keeping records of things that others have done to offend us, we fill ourselves up with poison. Bitterness makes our life attitude, words and thoughts bitter. Drop it, leave it and let it go, is what the Amplified Bible says we are to do with offenses (Mark 11:25). it is important to forgive quickly. The quicker we do it, the easier it is.

Let’s begin to behave as if we believe the Bible. In it, God tells us repeatedly what to do about those who offend us: love them, pray for them, bless them.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help me to forgive and forget quickly and not hold grudges or keep records of offenses. Only You can help me make this change, in the name of Jesus, amen!