“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Can you love and forgive those who have hurt, betrayed, and abandoned you? Your answer reveals whether or not you love God.
Can you imagine that the person or people that hurt you asked God to forgive them, which He always does, but you refused and never forgave them. Who will be in heaven?
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:34, NIV).
We Cannot Love God and Hate Others
Although we like to demand that other people ask us to forgive them, Jesus revealed while He was on Calvary’s Cross, what God expects every believer to do, and that is to obey His Command to forgive others.
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15, NIV).
Jesus tells us unless we forgive our enemies, God does not forgive us of our sins.
We must also ask God to forgive us for disobeying His command to forgive others by holding grudges [hatred] in our hearts.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
On the other side of hurt and harm: We have hurt or harmed other people that we cannot contact due to legal reasons, or they may be deceased; we ask God to forgive us, we believe that God has forgiven us, and we let go of all guilt.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12).
Lord God, we thank You for Your Love, Grace, Mercies, and Faithfulness. Thank You for sustaining our lives through 2025. And we also are grateful for the gift of Jesus, who died on the cross that we may be forgiven of every sin, we have committed. Lord, we pray for those who are holding the sins of unforgiveness and hatred in their hearts that they will not carry those transgressions into the New Year of 2026. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Brothers and Sisters, End 2025 and begin 2026 in Victory through Christ Jesus!
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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