Blood in the Water

Lysa Terkeurst says demons smell unforgiveness like a shark smells blood in the water. I think that is very descriptive—and true. 

Unforgiveness affects our spirits, our minds, our emotions, and our bodies…which means it affects our entire being. She goes on to say that God’s forgiveness flows to us and we must cooperate with God and forgive those who’ve hurt us. When we forgive, we symbolically take our hands off of our offender’s throat.

I can’t promise that when you forgive your offender that everything will magically be ok. They may never open themselves to relationship with you again! But they are responsible for their own choices—and you can’t make those choices for them. But you can pave the way for future relationship by forgiving them and releasing them of your anger or any retaliation. The prodigal’s father stood at the gate waiting for his son to come home with forgiveness in his heart—even though that son had wasted his entire inheritance on sinful living. Interestingly, the prodigal's older brother refused to forgive him. The father encouraged the older brother to forgive and reminded him that all that he owned was his. He still refused to forgive. That unforgiveness didn’t keep the prodigal and his father from enjoying a party to celebrate the prodigal’s homecoming! They apparently continued life without the unforgiving brother—even though he was invited in. God says, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18). I think the prodigal’s story sets a precedence in how to handle every aspect of forgiveness.