Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34; NLT).
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Lord God,
Please help me to forgive
Those who know
They’ve hurt me,
But won’t apologise –
For they
Are the hardest people
To forgive.
Oh, that is a hard one. I think there are times when we need to think of our own peace of mind. It can tear us apart longing for justification. If those people find it impossible to acknowledge the hurt they caused, perhaps we should let them go but continue to pray for the ability to forgive, despite the absence of an apology or, at least, an acknowledgment. I read a prayer this morning asking for the ability to love, not with the kind of love we are able to feel, but with the kind of love Jesus felt.
Thanks for your comment. It’s not justification I search for, but resolution of the broken relationship and my trust. Forgiveness is long, hard work, but it really is possible to make progress through a series of stages. I’m very slowly coming to understand it more, and to realise that it can’t be hurried. The prayer you read this am sounds very interesting XXX
I’m sorry I misunderstood. Yes, I believe forgiveness is possible too, and by taking things slowly and deliberately, those broken relationships will become stronger than ever, based on understanding and trust. The prayer I read is in a book called ‘Just as I Am: Personal Prayers for Every Day’ by Ruth Etchells.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Am-Personal-Prayers-Every/dp/0281060150/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512943053&sr=1-2&keywords=Just+as+I+am
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Thanks for saying more, and for the details of your book. Hope you will have a manageable day XXX