Out of left field a thought came and blindsided my emotions. Words said by someone in the past replayed in my mind entangling me in a web of anger and hurt.

Fortunately, I realized I have a choice. I could think about, whine about, and get mad about what they did, or I could cut the chains that tangle my emotions. Jesus has given a key to freedom, and forgiveness is the ax that cuts us free. As I forgave that person, I could feel the chains that tied me to that person, and the negative thoughts and emotions, lose their hold, and I floated free. The weight released and I felt light as a feather. The person remained chained to their sin, but I was free.

Jesus tells us, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15, NLT). When we forgive, forgiveness leads to our freedom and our forgiveness. Satan wants us to think forgiveness lets the other person off the hook, but the only one unhooked is the one who forgives.

When you forgive, the chain that binds you to that person is cut. Jesus Christ gives forgiveness and freedom so you can cut the chain through forgiveness so you can fly free.

Feeling chained? Cut the chain by forgiving so you can fly free.

“When we refuse to forgive, we bind ourselves to what we hate. … Forgiveness means taking someone off your hook and placing him or her on God’s hook.” ~ Sharon Jaynes

“It is impossible to keep people jailed in unforgiveness without being enslaved to it ourselves.” ~ Joanna Weaver

“Nurse resentment and you are never released… It’s only forgiveness that gives a future… Because it’s always in the forgiving that wrongs begin to right.” ~ Ann Voskamp

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” ~ C. S. Lewis

“It is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

For your freedom, to free yourself, cut the chains by forgiving so that you can fly free. “For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Matthew 6:14-15, AMPC), Galatians 5:1

Adapted from Present in His Presence by Lisa Buffaloe  https://amzn.to/300Vx3x