Prayer for Forgiveness

A teacher of the Jewish law posed a question to Jesus. "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"" Jesus replied that it is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:28-30 WEB) and the second is to

"Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31 WEB). Forgiveness is an integral part of love. We can not truely be free to love somebody if we hold resentment or bitterness in our hearts towards them. Equally, we can not be free to love ourselves if we have not forgiven ourselves - if we are carrying disappointment, guilt or anger about ourselves.

Scripture commands us to receive God's forgiveness, and to be ready to extend this forgiveness to others, and ourselves.

The act of confession - confessing our sins to each other, has a long tradition in church history. Once you have prayed the prayers at the bottom of this page you may find it helpful talk with somebody that you trust and be open with them about the issues that you face.

"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed".

James 5:16 (WEB)

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Areas of your life that might need forgiveness

* relationships with family (mother/father/child/marriage partner)

* friends (work colleagues/boss/employees/church relationships)

* acquaintances (e.g. professionals that you have sought help from such as nurses, doctors or accountants but have been hurt by)

Why it is important to forgive

1. It releases us to live our lives. No matter how deep the pain you may feel from being wronged, living with unforgiveness in your life can cause untold mental pain and (even) lead to physical illness.

2. Sometimes we need to forgive ourselves. It may be that you have let somebody (or yourself) down - this can lead to inner frustation and anger with yourself, and guilt. Forgiveness releases the heart to walk away from these negative feelings.

3. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:5). Forgiveness needs to be a regular activity - even daily if necessary. How many times should I forgive my brother (or children!)? Not seven but seventy times seven - it's something that we need to keep on doing.

prayer for the forgiveness of sins

Lord, I'm in that place again

On my knees

Laying my life out before You

Thank you that on the cross you cried

"It is finished"

You have done it

Forgiveness is complete

I can live forever in Your grace

Forever in Your love

So I ask now for Your forgiveness

For the wrongs that I have done

And the things that I have neglected

I ask for Your forgiveness

For the people I have hurt along the way

And those who I have failed to love as You love

I ask for your forgiveness

I receive Your forgiveness

And resolve in my heart

That with Your strength

I determine not to make these errors again

I receive Your forgiveness

And by the power of Your Holy Spirit

I walk away from everything I know to be wrong

And embrace everything I know about You

For the kingdom, the power and the glory

Are always and forever Yours

Amen

Bible verses about forgiveness of others

Christ commands us to be active in helping our enemies (probably the opposite of how we would naturally react!):-

"But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you..."

Matthew 5:44 (WEB)

Paul in his letter to the Roman Church reiterated the importance of loving your enemy:-

"But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head. Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good"
Romans 12:20 (BBE)

We are to keep on forgiving one another:-

"Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, what number of times may my brother do wrong against me, and I give him forgiveness? till seven times? Jesus says to him, I say not to you, Till seven times; but, Till seventy times seven"

Matthew 18:21-22 (BBE)

We are to forgive each other, just as God has forgiven us:-

"...forgive us our sins,
      as we have forgiven those who sin against us."

Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

"...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do"

Colossians 3:13 (WEB)

Jesus is our role model when it comes to forgiveness:-

"When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.""
Luke 23:33-34 (WEB)

please use the following prayer and bring to mind anybody who you need to forgive:-

prayer about forgiving others

Lord, I bring to mind (name)

I bring him/her before You

I feel hurt by them

Right now I confess any negative feelings I have about them

I forgive the wrongs they have done towards me

For any deliberate or unintentional things they have done

That have caused me pain

In the best way that I know how, I fully forgive them

I release them to You

Now that I have forgiven (name)

I choose not to hold any grudges towards him/her

Thank you that as I am praying now

You are freeing my inner world to live again

Free from resentment, pain and bitterness

Filled with joy, freedom and love

Amen