Healing and Forgiveness Go Together

About The Importance Of Forgiveness

This Article Provides Biblical Inner Growth and Scriptural Healing Wisdom

Christian healing isn’t widely accepted throughout the Christian church, but there’s even less discussion about Biblical healing and forgiveness.  While I desire for all Christians to know and believe that Jesus Christ is still healing today, I also desire that it be taught in conjunction with God’s forgiveness.

Isaiah 43:25 (ASV) ” I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.”

God tells us that He forgives by not remembering our sins. The Bible tells us to keep God at the center of our lives (Matthew 6:33), so we should follow His ways in whatever we do.  This is how we center upon God besides loving Him and having a close relationship with Him.  

Mark 11:25 teaches that before we pray, we need to make sure that we’ve forgiven everyone we have bad feelings about or have something against.  The process is simple in theory, but some people have a problem forgiving.  Verse 26, however, makes forgiveness a requirement for answered prayer. Following Mark 11:23-24 we can pray and receive whatever we ask God for in Jesus’ Name, but only if we forgive first!  We need to forgive the same way that God does. Look at what Jesus had to say about it.

Mark 11:25-26 (ASV)  ^25″ And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

We need to ask God to forgive our sins as well.  If we don’t ask forgiveness for our sins, our hearts will condemn us and it won’t be possible to receive answered prayer because we’ll feel unworthy or not good enough.  When we pray, we’re communicating with God, but we can’t do that effectively if we feel guilty.  

We need to go before God without feeling condemned by Him.  This is why we need to ask God to forgive us, we need to forgive ourselves and forgive others before we pray.  Then as John 3:20 states, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.  God know that we desire to fix our hearts to be pure before Him.  

For more clarity about forgiveness, we must ask God to forgive us, repent and receive!  It’s that simple! And we need to forgive all others, even if they don’t ask us to forgive them.  We forgive to keep our souls from becoming burdened and tainted with negative emotions such as hatred, anger or bitterness.

Note:  This doesn’t mean we have to be with everyone we forgive, we forgive in obedience to God so that we can go before Him blameless. 

1 John 3:20 (ISV)  20. If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. 

Jesus also instructed Peter about forgiveness. Jesus said that we must forgive 70×7. There’s no real number or limit, this was an example Jesus gave Peter when he had asked if He needed to forgive the same person up to seven times.  This is Jesus’ way of stating that we must always forgive. Especially looking at what Jesus said in Mark 11:25-26.  If we don’t forgive, we can’t receive answered prayer.  

Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)  21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

At this point, we see that Biblical healing and forgiveness must go together if we want to experience healing from whatever comes against our minds, bodies or emotions.  We must forgive in order to receive healing and live in good health!  This can even apply when we pray for healing through the medical profession.  If you’re facing surgery, for example, make sure to forgive all, including yourself, before you make that appointment.

If you’re trusting God to heal you but nothing is happening, then you need to examine your heart to find out who you’re angry with or who makes you feel bitter when you think about what they did to you.  Forgive all immediately for the sake of your soul and to be blameless before God! 

More About How Unforgiveness Stops God’s Flow Of Blessing

Unforgiveness causes a plethora of unhealthy emotions which can even cause sickness and disease. These emotions work against God’s Word and they will actually prevent God from working on your behalf because they take you out of your “rest” in Christ.

When you’re angry, bitter, vengeful, jealous or spiteful, God’s Word becomes inactive in your life. Negative emotions never come from God, they’re of the world. Therefore God and negative feelings can’t coexist within your heart.  

Matthew 6:24 (KJV) “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Success in Christ will elude you and whatever success you’ve already attained will be tainted by the ugly and unhealthy negative emotions unforgiveness breeds. Unforgiveness is an insidious internal animal that helps the devil steal, kill or destroy the lives of God’s people who do not trust Jesus for the abundant life He promises.

Today, choose forgiveness God’s way to achieve the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10. Thank God RIGHT NOW for setting you free by forgiving all!

John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

This lesson also applies to anything the Word says God will bless you with in the Bible.  Forgive all before you pray and ask for whatever it is you want or need.  

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