Daily Affirmations - Day 3 - Spirit Language - The Language of Forgiveness
- Alisa B.
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Day 3: The language of forgiveness
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Lord our God, You have told us in Your word, "It is Mine to avenge; I will repay..." (Deuteronomy 32:35). You are sovereign, omnipotent; a God of justice and a God of love; the One who searches hearts and minds (Revelation 2:23).
The Lord Jesus, who knows the heart and mind of God—who is Himself God—showed us that forgiveness is implicit trust in a God of goodness and justice. He bore the ultimate injustice of this world, yet entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). And from a cross of suffering, He prayed for forgiveness for His tormentors (Luke 23:34).
Father, teach us to forgive like Jesus. In our tangled minds we equate forgiveness with weakness, with destructive submission, with abuse, and with lack of accountability. Scripture shows us the opposite of this reasoning. You are a God of mercy, but You are also a God of justice who does not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7). You provide avenues through human systems, through Your own interventions, and ultimately in the court of heaven, for the appropriate accountability.
Lord, You made us and formed us, and You know the destructive nature of unforgiveness and its ability to trap us in a prison of bitterness, resentment, grudges, revenge, retaliation, and rehearsal of wrongs. But You have instructed us, Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong (Psalm 37:1).
Ultimately every sin, every injustice is against You. David understood this, when He prayed, "Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge" (Psalm 51:4). And Joseph understood this when he asked his brothers who feared retaliation for the wrongs they had done him, "Am I in the place of God?" (Genesis 50:19).
But remind us that we too, are guilty of wrongs. We all fall short of Your glory (Romans 3:23), and the most heinous wrong against us can never rise to the level of our own wrongs against You. Yet You forgive us. And the Lord Jesus taught us that we cannot seek Your forgiveness without first forgiving others:
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25).
Father, forgiving is often difficult. You have placed in us an understanding of justice and injustice, right and wrong, and we react strongly to "breaches". But You alone are the ultimate Standard of justice—the all-seeing God, the impartial Judge of all the earth who will do right (Genesis 18:25)—without the taint of pride and other human inclinations.
On our own we struggle. Empower us by Your Spirit. Give us a willingness to forgive. Teach us the language of forgiveness. Give us the ability to pray, earnestly and sincerely, Forgive us for the ways we have wronged You, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us... (Matthew 6:12 - CEB).
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