Hope you've had your coffee. This post is one of those "I didn't plan for this" words …

I'm reading through Matthew, and this morning I read the story Jesus shared with his disciples to teach them how important it is to forgive. (Matthew 18:23-35). You've heard it – the one where the dude begs the king to have mercy on him because he can't pay his debt, and the king has compassion and forgave him. The same dude goes out and refuses to offer the same forgiveness to someone who owes him something. Word gets back to the king, and oh man, it did not go well. The king was so angry he threw the dude in jail and ordered him tortured until he could pay his debt (which, by the way, the debt was so great he could never repay it). You know the most sobering part of what Jesus said? - "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." (Matthew 18:35)

Don't breeze past this.

Don't sugar coat it.

The truth that will set every single one of us free is this – FORGIVE.

No more excuses. If you are holding on to a grudge or unforgiveness, you will never be free.

How often do we feel like we are being tortured and believe it's because of an offense? When the truth is, the source of our misery is our unwillingness to forgive.

Here's something helpful – forgiveness isn't a feeling; it's a CHOICE. Stop waiting until you feel like forgiving. Choose to forgive and then watch what God will do to your heart. You'll be amazed. God will never command us to do something that He won't empower us to do. He will empower you to forgive even the worst offenders. You can't do it alone, but with God, you can forgive.

May I be bold?

Sisters, listen up. Our world is changing and changing fast. The winds of opposition toward the Christian faith and the Bible will not start blowing someday; they are already blowing and fast approaching hurricane speed. I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but things are never going back to "normal." If we claim to be believers in Jesus Christ, it's time we deal with our "stuff." When the enemy comes after us, and after our families, we won't be able to fight if we still refuse to forgive. Unforgiveness not only makes us weak and ineffective in kingdom warfare, but it also renders us useless. We have the armor and weapons we need for warfare, but we won't be able to put them on if our arms are already full of old offenses or grievances.

Forgive. Then get in the battle. You were born for this.