Then Peter came to Him and said,
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven
times?” Jesus said to him, “I
do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22)
I once read that "Life is an exercise in forgiveness" If you keep on living, you will have an opportunity to forgive or not to forgive. As you continue to focus on Integrity, you must understand that forgiveness is much more that an action of the mouth, but it is a condition of the heart.
I should have started this day of Integrity off with, "It is hard for us to forgive in the flesh!" Always has, and it always shall be. But when mankind did its worst against GOD, HE still forgave. That is because it can only be done by the Spirit of GOD! We cannot forgive in the flesh, but by the Spirit of GOD we are forgiven and we can forgive.
Integrity Builder: Make a list of the people you need to forgive. From that list, pick the person who has hurt you the most, and lift them up in prayer. Lift them up with a heart of integrity unto the Lord.
It is going to be very hard for some of us. Remember, "Don't let the pain of hurt harden your heart, but let the Love of GOD remove the pain of hurt from your heart"
Dear GOD,
First I am reminded that You forgave me when I was still your enemy. It was by Your Love that I am forgiven, so I ask that You give me the strength to demonstrate that same love towards those who have hurt me. Although my mind may never be erased, please let my heart be emptied of the fleshly desire of revenge and be filled with the Spirit of forgiveness. I cannot demonstrate this type of forgiveness on my own, so I submit myself to You and Your will. Let the words of my mouth be generated from my heart that "I forgive", in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ! Amen