The Power of Forgiveness: Is it Well with Your Soul? - Living Free - August 4
The Power of Forgiveness: Is it Well with Your Soul?
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Scripture
“Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
Thoughts for the Day
Forgiveness doesn’t deny the seriousness of sin—it declares the supremacy of grace.
When Ruth Graham visited death row at Angola Prison, she met a man named Michael who sang with such peace and conviction, “It is well with my soul,” that it moved her to tears. She didn’t know his story—only that he was facing execution. What she later discovered shocked her: Michael had brutally murdered a child.
But the story doesn’t end there.
The boy’s grandfather, a missionary in Nepal, had not only forgiven Michael but had prayed for his salvation for years. Despite his unimaginable loss, this grandfather cared more about Michael’s eternity than his own right to justice. His forgiveness broke through prison walls, crossed oceans, and impacted lives—including Ruth’s, Michael’s, and perhaps even yours and mine.
Consider This . . .
Can forgiveness really be that powerful? Could you forgive someone who hurt you deeply—without excuse, without justification?
Most of us struggle to forgive even minor offenses. But true forgiveness, the kind that mirrors God’s, doesn’t come from our own strength. It comes from the heart of a Savior who died for us while we were still sinners.
Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting. It is choosing to let go of revenge, to release someone from the prison of your pain. In doing so, we release ourselves, too. Michael died with peace in his soul—not because he was innocent, but because he was redeemed.
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Is there someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness? Don’t wait. Don’t carry the weight another step.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the immeasurable gift of forgiveness through Jesus. Help me to forgive others, not based on what they deserve, but based on what You have done for me. Soften my heart. Free me from bitterness, pain, and judgment. May I live each day with the kind of grace that reaches across prison walls, oceans, and even time.
In Jesus’ name, Amen...
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