If your brother does something wrong, rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.

God puts no stipulation on forgiveness. There is no formula one is required to follow in order to give or to receive forgiveness. We are not required to steep in our own guilt, to mull over what we have done, to write a note of apology, or to dwell on our errors. All we have to do is to say, “I am sorry.” Likewise, we are not required to put off forgiving while we decide whether the one asking forgiveness is truly sorry. We are not required to search that person’s heart for the details of the sorrow. We are not commanded to bring up periodic reminders of the forgiveness we grant. We are only commanded to forgive. And to keep forgiving.

LORD, I AM SORRY FOR THE TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN STINGY WITH FORGIVENESS, WHEN I HAVE COMPROMISED RELATIONSHIPS BY HOLDING ON TO OLD HURTS. HELP ME TO FORGIVE AS READILY AS YOU DO, AND HELP ME TO BE AWARE OF TIMES WHEN I HAVE WRONGED OTHERS SO THAT I MAY BE THE ONE TO SAY “I AM SORRY.” IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN.

-Shared by Charelle Webb