Unforgiveness is a poison. It corrupts the heart, causing bitterness and resentment towards another, and the one who suffers most is the one who has it.
Matthew 18:23-35 speaks of this when it says that if we do not forgive, we will get turned over to the tormentors or the torturers. This isn't an eternal thing alone; it is also for now. Having thoughts against another person and thinking of all the hatred and such, is already torment in itself. It is hard carrying around a heaviness in the heart and wouldn't we get rid of such heaviness if we can?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
God commands us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. Really, it's not entirely for the sake of the other that God wants us to forgive but for our sake. Some people don't want to forgive thinking that it would benefit the other person, but the real benefit of doing this is for ourselves.
To motivate people to forgive, I say, "Forgive them for your sake."
What forgiveness does is it takes away one by one all the ugly, filthy feelings that have made their residence in the human heart, ticking the emotions on the wrong side causing one negative feeling after the other. When you forgive, you release yourself from the tormentors. Slowly, you'll realize that the heaviness is being lifted until there is no more trace of it.
Forgiveness is a decision of the will and not of the emotions. Joyce Meyer says that, "You will never forgive if you wait until you feel like it. Choose to obey God and steadfastly resist the devil in his attempts to poison you with bitter thoughts. Make a quality decision to forgive, and God will heal your wounded emotions in due time."
Do it for you.
Furthermore, "Choosing forgiveness is one of the most difficult things God asks us to do, especially if we believe that whoever hurt us is in the wrong and doesn't deserve to be forgiven. But God instructs us to practice forgiveness. And when we choose to follow the path of forgiveness, we will experience peace and joy that come through obeying God's Word." Says Joyce.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
Unforgiven sins on our part hinders our prayers from being answered.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NIV
So, forgive. Do it for you.
