I will pray for their souls. How’s that?
How’s that?
In Biblical terms, from Christ’s own instructions on how to pray . . . as well as other verses . . .
INSUFFICIENT.
We can CHOOSE to forgive. It is a decision.
We can ASK GOD TO MAKE THE EMOTION AND HEART LEVEL REALITY DIFFERENT AND TO CONFORM TO HIS LOVE, GRACE AND MERCY.
WE CAN AND MUST FORGIVE
AS
WE WANT TO BE FORGIVEN.
NONE OF US can bear the penalty for the least of our sins.
Maybe we have to confess forgiveness every time a memory comes up. Maybe we have to pray God’s blessing on them every time a memory comes up. Maybe we have to ask God to change our heart and our emotions about it every time a memory comes up.
Persistence in such WILL RESULT IN CHANGE. God is faithful.
OR
We can refuse and bear the consequences in our bodies, in our relationships, in our spiritual health. Unforgiveness is literally tied to all manner of serious health issues.
See
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY
by Henry Wright.
Unforgiveness turns out to be for the forgiver much more than the forgiven.
USUALLY, forgiving someone means God will have freer reign in dealing with their crud much sooner and much more forcefully. Somehow, it’s as though there’s a spiritual law that God won’t cross near as often or as soon or as much as long as we are unforgiving toward someone. It’s as though He lets our censure of them suffice for His punishment.
We forgive them, then He is freer to deal with them much more forcefully.