While most of us understand that we are to forgive others for their sinful words and actions against us. Many of us do not know what that looks like. We have heard the adage “forgive and forget,” but when we attempt to forgive we find that forgetting is very difficult if not impossible because of the emotions that are involved in the incident. Today, I want to encourage you with the knowledge that forgiving is not necessarily forgetting (although with time that can happen), forgiveness is primarily a choice not to hold someone accountable for their words and actions. We are choosing instead to treat the person as if they never did or said those things. In Psalm 103:12, God reminds us that “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” We also read in Jeremiah 31:34 that the Lord says, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” The point here is that when we are tempted to dwell on the sin of others against us, we choose not to allow our thinking to go there, we remember that we have extended to the person forgiveness, and I must let go of the emotions that are attempting to control our relationship. I understand that this is not an easy decision, and that is what makes us different as believers. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to do this hard work. During those moments when we are being drawn away by our emotions and find ourselves tempted to dwell the event, we need to come before the Lord and remember our choice to forgive, and ask Him for the strength to overcome. God will enable us to do that which He commands us to do