Release the Burden: Embrace Forgiveness and Freedom

Bound by the Burden of Unforgiveness.

I need you to know that you are not your mistakes. You are so much more than any mistake you have ever made.

We have to remember that only God is perfect. And while we are not perfect, we are made in His image, and He is the One who perfects what concerns us.

Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to the ways of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. We oftentimes stop there, but I dare you to read the verse in its entirety:

“…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 (KJV)

God’s forgiveness was never meant to leave you chained.

It is not God’s will for you to be bound by your burdens—or anyone else’s.

God forgives and loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Jesus paid the price, and all the charges have been dropped—erased—GONE. Hallelujah!!

But can I let you in on a little secret?

GOD DOESN’T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT WE DID!

He does not hold it against us, for we serve a God that forgives AND FORGETS!!

And He did that so we would do the same, for ourselves and for others.

Meaning we cannot bind others by their mistakes and choose not to forgive them, but still want God to forgive us. Oh yes—forgiveness is a give-and-receive from God with true repentance.

Heavy on the word “true.”

We pray, “God, make me in your image,” and then with the same tongue say, “I will forgive them, but I will not forget what they did to me.” Mmmmmmm… interesting.

Question for you, dear…

What if God did not forget everything you did?

And if that statement is you, then we have work to do. Follow me to Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT):

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is you.

Many of us not only struggle with forgiving people, but forgiving ourselves, finding ourselves carrying burdens for situations in our life that had absolutely nothing to do with us… nothing we could do about it then… and the only thing we can do about it now is give it to God.

Accept that it is not your burden to carry and RELEASE IT!!

God can only heal what you reveal.

Let’s stay in the book of Matthew. Let’s go to chapter 11, verses 28–30:

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)

Unforgiveness keeps you in cycles.

Relationships that lack forgiveness put us in a cycle, same situations with different people, or even different situations that lead to the same results EVERY TIME!!

Break the cycle TODAY!!

We will not allow the enemy to keep us bound any longer, for we have a Father we can cast all cares on—because He cares for us.

Prayer

Father God, I love you, honor and adore you for being the head of my life—my strong tower, my strength when I am weak, the answer when I am confused, my comforter in chaos, and my peace in the storm.

And I come to you today to thank you and praise you even more for lifting this burden that I give to you off of me. I give you this burden I have been carrying for so long—a burden that only you can carry, oh Father. A burden that has been passed down from generation to generation, but it stops with me today. For I give it to you, never to return, in the name of Jesus.

Father, I thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light, and you will never put more on me than I can bear. But what’s even greater, oh Father, is through it all you are always here with me—where you are welcome into my life and free to dwell, shift, and transform everywhere you deem necessary.

Father, give me the heart to forgive others as you have forgiven me time after time. Father, give me the heart to forgive myself. Reveal those places in my life where grace should be, and help me sit in your presence and in your word as you heal me—to that place of peace that can only be sustained through you.

Father God, I bind the spirit of unforgiveness now. Fill us up, oh God, with your love, grace, mercy, and compassion. Give us a heart of understanding, and help us see people the way you see them, love them the way you love them, and always keep them in prayer—giving them and what they did to me, to you, and then moving out of your way.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!!!