Text: Genesis 27:41-45
Memory text:
“Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.””
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever thought of why trees shed old leaves every season, making them look bare, even vulnerable? Yes, those old leaves needed to fall to make room for new growth. Without letting go of the old, the tree can not bloom again.
Likewise, for a relationship to grow, it needs to keep releasing old pains, hurts, offenses, and grudges.
Unforgiveness is the refusal or inability to let go of hurt or offense toward one who has wronged you.
Let’s consider today, one way in which unforgiveness destroys love, which is through resentment. This is a persistent feeling of anger, bitterness, or displeasure against the perceived offender. Rather than allowing the wound of the offense heal through forgiveness, the person continues to replay the offense in the mind and to seek revenge. Thus, the wound opens up the more until it grows bigger than the original wound. When an offense is not forgiven, bitterness starts to grow, and like a toxic root, it contaminates the whole relationship.
“looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” ‭‭(Heb‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬).
After Jacob got the firstborn’s blessing, Esau became filled with resentment and vowed to kill Jacob. Unforgiveness brought fear, separated brothers, and destroyed the family love for decades. Love, joy, peace, and intimacy can not thrive in unforgiveness. Resentment is the anger that is fully settled and that has matured (Eph 4:26-27).
An Asian proverb says, “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” Being offended is not the problem, but refusing to let go and replaying the offense is what kills love. Love can not thrive in resentment because it keeps scores, magnifies faults, and erases kindness. Score keeping strangles love. Bitterness wraps around the heart while resentment chokes love in the heart.
Friends, to preserve and renew love relationships, is to always practice forgiveness. My wife and I still offend each other despite over three decades of marriage, but forgiveness is the oil that renews our love. We hurt each other, but we never allow the sun to settle over our anger. Love doesn’t die once, but gradually. Wage war against bitterness and resentment in your relationship. Break the unforgiveness habit today!

Prayer points
1. I destroy the stronghold of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment in my life, and I refuse to be destroyed by these, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, soften my hardened heart and help me to be yielding and to be the first to forgive and initiate peace in every conflict, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I won’t allow the sun to set over my anger, lest I permit bitterness and resentment and the opening of the door for the devil in my life.
2. The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest. I will always be the first.