5. Forgiveness of others

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
— Mark 11:25

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
— Eph. 4:31-32

…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
— Col. 3:13

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
— Matt. 6:14-15

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
— Matt. 5:44-47

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
— Luke 6:35-36

…to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all men.
— Tit. 3:2

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield.
— James 3:17

We cannot walk in the Spirit (next point) if we are not reconciled to others. He will not let us off the hook if we have broken relationships. Make a decision to be reconciled with the people in your life against whom you are bitter, angry, resentful or on whom you have given up, or whom you have deliberately avoided. Use your own prayer, or use the following samples as guides:

Sample Prayer Forgiving Others

I forgive my SPOUSE for depriving me of ___________ and determine to act toward him/her in love irrespective of his/her actions towards me. I forgive my spouse for any negativity and lack of love extended throughout our time together, and especially for ___________________. I recognize that You have purchased me and all that I am and have, and that I no longer belong to myself. Therefore I let go of my rights which have been stepped on and leave those for You to protect or take away. Help me to respond and interact with my spouse by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I relinquish my bitterness and anger and turn those areas that cause these emotions over to you.

I forgive my MOTHER for her sins against me, and no longer want to be controlled by her past actions. I especially turn over to You the grudge that I hold in __________________. I forgive her for any abuse she may have committed knowingly or unknowingly, especially _____________________________. By the power of Your Holy Spirit I make peace with her today and commit myself to love her in the Lord and to treat her with the respect that You call for.

Etc. Continue to release any negative feelings and thoughts that you have towards father, children, brothers, sisters, other relatives, ancestors, friends, school teachers, pastors, or perhaps that unnamed person who has hurt you most. Turn them over to the Lord and ask Him to replace those feelings and thoughts with forgiveness and love.