Romans 12:19,  "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

Think

"The least invested often has the most control; the most invested often has the least control." When we harbor unforgiveness, we are essentially telling God that we know more than He does. We're taking on a responsibility that we were never intended to have. And while that sounds good initially, the reality is that it causes problems beyond what we realize. So often, when we try to take things into our own hands, we end up causing more of a mess! God tells us very clearly that we are not to take revenge. When we are hurt, our responsibility is not to make sure that person pays. Our responsibility is to forgive and then trust God for His response. As hard as this is for us, it's not complex. It's about being obedient to God and His call on our lives. Remember, forgiveness is the key to experiencing freedom and peace in our lives. When we release those who have hurt us and trust God to handle the rest, we're not only giving them a gift; we're giving ourselves one as well!

Act

One of the most difficult things about forgiveness is asking for it ourselves. As you think about the work of forgiveness, take some time to think about those you need to ask forgiveness from. And here's the key. Learn to say a real apology. It's not "I'm sorry if I offended you..." or just, "I apologize." A real apology is simply this: "I was wrong. Will you forgive me?"

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your patience with me and for Your forgiveness in my life. Help me, as I continue to grow, to reflect Your love and forgiveness more and more. Help me to be an example of Your ultimate forgiveness in the lives of others around me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.