The Cross Frees You to Forgive - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - October 29, 2021

The Cross Frees You to Forgive 
By Rick Warren

“We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us.” Romans 6:6 (NCV)

Jesus broke the power of sin on the cross. Romans 6:6 says, “We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us” (NCV). This is great news, especially because our natural inclination is to do the wrong thing.

It’s our natural, human inclination to hurt others when they hurt us. If someone says something bad about you, you want to say something bad about them. We tend to hold on to hurts and struggle to forgive. 

But you can break that bondage to bitterness, guilt, resentment, and worry. You can avoid becoming a slave to the past and to hurtful memories. You can choose to forgive. 

What hurt are you hanging on to? Let me ask you a very important question about that hurt: How badly do you want to be healed of it? Do you want to let it go? Maybe you’ve gone over it a thousand times in your mind—what your parents did, what your sibling did, what your spouse did. Every time you think about it, it still hurts.

The cross has the power to free you from grudges, grief, and resentment. There’s nothing outside of the cross that will empower you to let go of the emotions that are weighing you down. On the cross, Jesus broke the power of sin, death, and bondage in your life.

I want you to think of the person you need to forgive—the person whose offense planted a seed of bitterness in you—and I want you to pray this prayer right now:

“Father, only you understand how much I’ve been hurt by this person. I don’t want to carry the pain for another second. I don’t want to be a bitter person. But I need your grace and the power of the cross to release my hurt and to forgive those who’ve hurt me. This is the turning point.

“First, I need to experience your forgiveness. You know all the ways I’ve hurt others, and I’m so sorry for my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I accept your grace and forgiveness, and I need it daily. 

“Today I’m turning to you, and I’m choosing to forgive like you’ve forgiven me. Every time the memory comes back, I’ll forgive that person again until the pain is gone. Heal my heart with your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

Get Equipped to Face Life’s Challenges with Faith!

Life throws a lot at us these days. And it’s clearer than ever that we need to equip ourselves with biblical wisdom—because only God’s Word gives us the power we need to handle whatever comes our way.

That’s why Pastor Rick created the Unshakable Bible study.

The Unshakable Bible study is our thanks for your support to help take Daily Hope to more people around the world.

So request your copy below when you give—and get equipped to face any challenge with faith!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.