Thought for the day - Forgiveness

Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

Mark 11: 25
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

Matthew 6:14 - 15
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Psalm 103:22
As far as the East is from the West, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  

Luke 23:24 
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Forgive appears 42 times in the Old Testament and 33 times in the New Testament excluding the words forgiven, forgives or forgiveness.

Colossians 3:13  
 Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1 John 1:9 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender, In the Bible, the Greek word translated "forgiveness" literally means "to let go", as when a person does not demand payment for a debt. Matthew 18:23 - 35  
Forgiveness does not come naturally to people. It is a process depending on the level or depth of the offense. It is so much easier to 'hold on' to the offense and wallow in self-pity. We need God's help to really 'let go' of the offense, to feel no pain or anger when talking about it and to move forward in our walk with God...... to actually forgive. With God, all things are possible!