Colossians 3:12-13
Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13 (TLB)
About the time we received the email schedule for upcoming devotions, an article about forgiveness appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star. It was written by Maureen Salamon, an Executive Editor for Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Part of the article is below.
“Forgiveness is a powerful concept that goes beyond just being good for the soul. It turns out that forgiving others can have significant positive effects on our mental and physical well-being.
Mental Well-Being: Forgiveness can reduce anxiety and depression. When we let go of anger and resentment, it frees us from the emotional burden of holding grudges. This mental relief contributes to overall well-being.
Stress Reduction: Forgiving others can ease stress. When we harbor negative feelings toward someone, it puts a strain on our minds and bodies. By choosing forgiveness, we alleviate this stress.
Improved Sleep: Letting go of grudges can lead to better sleep. When we’re no longer consumed by negative thoughts, our sleep quality tends to improve.
Lower Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Forgiveness has physical benefits too. Studies suggest that forgiving others can positively impact blood pressure and heart rate.”
Forgiveness is hard. We tend to hold onto resentments, and we hold grudges. Does it make us feel good? Not likely. It’s more likely that it grinds away at us affecting our well-being, our stress levels, our sleep, and our blood pressure.
Are those good reasons to forgive? They certainly are. Another, and probably the best reason to forgive is because as verse 13 in our Bible passage says, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Questions for Reflection:
- Think about a time you were really angry. Why was that? Did you feel good being angry? Then, think about a time you knew you were forgiven after you had said or done something to hurt someone. How did that feel?
Prayer
Dear Lord, this forgiveness thing is hard. Daily, we need Your help and daily, we need your forgiveness. Thank you for loving us. Amen.
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