Forgiveness is for Your Own Sake

We forgive those who hurt us, not for their sake, but for our OWN mental and physical health and well-being. Forgiveness is rooting up and letting go of the self-destructive emotions of anger and resentment and hurt.

When you forgive, you stop holding something against somebody else. Many times people think that forgiveness is something that you do for other people. But forgiveness is what you do for yourself! That's why I tell you, don't carry anger, don't carry resentment, don't carry 'hurtred' nor hatred.

Some of you say, "Rev. Ike, I don't hate, but I'm hurt.” Well, let me tell you, 'hurtred' is just as dangerous as hatred.

Some of you are carrying around 'hurtred'. And that will do you just as bad as hatred—because, you see, if you carry with you the emotion of being hurt, you will draw more hurt. If you are easily offended, you will keep drawing people to you who will keep offending you. You continually feel hurt and keep saying, "Oh, I'm so hurt." And you'll draw more hurt and act as they say in that song, "Why is Everybody Always Picking on Me?" You're not just doing the other person a favor by forgiving them; you're doing yourself a favor.

I often hear, "Rev. Ike, everyone keeps saying "forgive, forgive," but no one tells me HOW!" Well, I'll tell you exactly how to do it.

Forgiveness is the Way

Repeat the following affirmation out loud as many times as you need to. Insert the name of each person you wish to forgive. And don't JUST say the words; FEEL the words. Use your emotions, and act them out in the theater of your mind until you convince yourself that you mean it!