Forgiveness Is the Gateway
When the door of unforgiveness opens, it gives legal access for the enemy to come into one's life. It's an entry point for torment. However, let's recall, forgiveness is the gateway to true freedom, healing, and deliverance.
We cannot bypass forgiveness; not only is it necessary, it's a command. The Word of God says in Matthew 6:12, 14–15 (NKJV): "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors... 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."
The Art of the Divine Exchange
This passage directly connects our forgiveness from God to our willingness to forgive others. We can remain stuck in the quicksand of unforgiveness because we have not released others and repented for our own mistakes, actions, and the parts we've played. Everyone plays a part. We cannot hold others captive. Holding on to the anger, pain, and trauma that others inflicted upon us opens the door for the tormentor to come into our lives.
Everything is an exchange in the realm of the spirit. It operates on principles of exchange. This is both a spiritual law and a Kingdom dynamic. Whether it's bitterness, fear, pride, or control, the Kingdom invites us to trade ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and heaviness for a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3). Spiritual maturity is learning the art of divine exchange.
When you forgive, you release your right to revenge, retribution, or judgment, and in exchange you receive redemption, freedom, peace, and healing.
Matthew 6:14–15 connects forgiveness to being forgiven. There is no receiving without giving. This is how it flows in the Kingdom. Repentance is not just confession; it's an exchange of the old mindset for the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2). (Photo via Flickr)
I myself have had to forgive many in my lifetime. The biggest one was forgiving myself. The Lord showed me the deep places where self-hate, self-pity, and self-loathing took root early in my life. When you choose God's way daily, with fear and trembling, the Holy Spirit walks with you and talks with you. He will reveal the depths of the heart that seem unsearchable and hidden—even things you yourself may not be aware of. He reveals truth and heals and delivers our souls.
Fruit Doesn't Grow on Mountains
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers." (3 John 1:2 AMPC)
This verse serves as a reminder that our external circumstances often reflect our internal, spiritual state. As our souls flourish through a deepening relationship with God, this can lead to overall well-being in other areas of our lives.
When we allow the process of true transformation to come in, it will look messy. It will look dirty and out of order sometimes. Yet God's ways are not our own. His ways are so much better. He shakes the tree, and everything that must shake off will in fact come off, and what remains He fortifies.
Fruit doesn't grow on mountains; it grows in the valleys. It grows in the process of sanctification and transformation.
Today Is the Day of Ultimate Freedom
I want to encourage you today, if you know you are harboring things against anyone you've encountered in your lifetime, today is the day of ultimate freedom. Come boldly to the throne of grace and with unwaivering faith. When you release the baggage and weights of unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, wrath, and the like, you will shut the door to the enemy. Then Jesus can step into the wounds that need healing. Many times we are dealing with a wound that needs to be healed. (Photo via PickPik)
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; the punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 AMP)
This passage reveals that Jesus' suffering brings us healing—not only physical healing but also emotional and spiritual healing.
Choose today to forgive and close the door on the enemy. Walk through the gateway of freedom as you release every person from the captivity of your heart and mind. As you let God lead, sanctify, and build endurance and faith within, you will become mature in Christ, and the Word says in James 1:2–4, you will lack nothing. I want to lack nothing.
"Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing." (James 1:2–4 AMP)
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Rachel Miranda Emerson
Awakening to Revival Global
Email:Â awakeningtorevival@gmail.com
Website:Â www.theschoolofministry.com
Rachel Miranda Emerson is an emerging and rising seer with a prophetic voice shaking the world. She is a prolific dreamer and a visionary pioneer for such a time as this. She desires to share the heart of the Father with the Body of Christ by prophetic ministry. Rachel and her husband are founders of Awakening to Revival Global Ministry and Roar Academy Online, walking out the Ephesians 4:11 mandate; equipping, training and launching a company of Believers to impact the nations. She resides in Bardstown, Kentucky with her husband Daniel Emerson—father, pioneer and prophet—and their children.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Thank you for making the always-free "ElijahStreams" possible. To partner with us, click here.
Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you. Donate at:
Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here
