July 29, 2022 - Proverbs 17:9

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, we thank you for the beauty of forgiveness and how you so wonderfully demonstrate it for us. There would be no hope for us at all without it. As hard as we try to live a holy life, we continually fail. As much as we try to love others as you love us, we constantly fall short. Even those closest to us that we don’t want to cause pain, we let them down again and again. It is only through forgiveness that we can come into a relationship with you. And it is only with forgiveness that we can have healthy relationships with others. It is also only by forgiving others that we can live a free and joy-filled life.

We want to see love prosper in all our relationships and that can’t happen if we are not willing to offer them forgiveness when needed. Teach us how to be quick to forgive and not hold grudges. We don’t want to be one to keep count of offenses but want to truly forgive and let it go. We don’t want to give any place in our lives for unforgiveness to harden our hearts and turn to bitterness.

Lord, we thank you that forgiveness doesn’t mean that we ignore negative or destructive behavior. Give us wisdom on how to forgive, and when necessary, help us to address needed change in behavior. Help us address these things in love and through forgiveness, not through anger or bitterness. We want our friendships to demonstrate love and encourage each other to be better. Lord, we also ask that you give us wisdom on when it is time for a friendship to part ways. We always need to forgive, but you are not always asking us to stick around if we are constantly being mistreated. Help us know when you want us to stay and demonstrate love by turning the other cheek, and when we should forgive and graciously walk away. Lord, your will and not ours.

In Jesus name, amen.