Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV)

Watch out for unforgiveness as if it were a rattlesnake! Mark Hankins

Jesus said, “When you stand praying, forgive.” (Mark 11:25-26) This means while you are standing in prayer, you can quickly make an adjustment in your heart. People often let things eat at them for years and years, but you can make a decision to forgive right now. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a choice. You may still have feelings of hurt, but the decision has been made! You can forgive by faith.

Faith is of the heart; therefore unforgiveness is a disease of the heart. That spirit will get inside of you and make your heart callused so your faith won’t respond or work properly. Then you will get cynical, and you won’t be able to receive from God.

Unforgiveness – offense and bitterness – is the primary thing you have to guard against. You must watch out for unforgiveness just as if it were a rattlesnake. When you see it come around, avoid it!

Confession: I stand watchful and ready to quickly forgive. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5)

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. (Hebrews 12:15 NKJV)

The cure for certain diseases is forgiveness! Mark Hankins

I believe that we will never find a cure for certain diseases because all diseases are not simply physical or biological. Some have their roots in a curse that comes from breaking a spiritual law. That means the devil is the source of it all!

Guard against bitterness. Remember, unforgiveness is the greatest enemy to your faith so you must deal with it quickly. When the devil tries to trick you into being unforgiving or bitter because of an injustice, all kinds of incurable diseases may result. You might not have done anything to be in the pit you are in, but you must forgive. Medicine will not be able to cure some diseases because the cure for them is spiritual. Sometimes you will have to deal with something in your heart before you can receive your healing. The cure for certain diseases is forgiveness!

Confession: I will obey the Word of God. It is life and health to my flesh. I will guard my heart, for out of it springs the issues of life! (Proverbs 4:22-23)

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)

The devil knows that he can neutralize your faith with unforgiveness faster than any other way. Mark Hankins

Unforgiveness is the door through which the devil enters. Dad Hagin said it this way, “Anytime you’re feeling mistreated, you know that the devil is working on you.” If someone does you wrong or says something you don’t like, you’d better watch it. Those feelings and that voice will come to you saying, “You’ve been mistreated,” and “They really did you wrong!” The devil will continue to work on you until he has set up an offense.

You must not speak against or attack those who have mistreated you. When you release and forgive them, something positive will happen inside of you!

Smith Wigglesworth said, “I believe there are a great many people who would be healed, but they are harboring things in their hearts that are as a blight…There is just some little thing that came in their hearts years ago and their faith has been paralyzed since.” Don’t allow unforgiveness to paralyze your faith!

Confession: My faith is in God! I will not listen to the voice of the enemy. I will not allow unforgiveness to paralyze my faith!

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Life is not always fair, but God is good. Jesse Duplantis

As you study the book of Job in the Old Testament, you will notice that God turned his captivity when he prayed for his friends. Job’s friends were really his critics. God can turn your captivity, too, if you will pray for your critics and ask God to bless them.

In Genesis chapters 37, 39 and 40, we find the story of Joseph. Even in prison, Joseph kept working as unto the Lord, and he never got bitter. God not only brought him out of prison, but He also made him ruler over all of Egypt.

Offense is sure to come, but we have to guard against it. What the devil means for evil, God will turn around for our good when we choose to forgive!

Confession: I will love my enemies and bless those who curse me. I will do good to those that hate me and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute me. (Matthew 5:44) As I pray for my critics, God is turning my captivity just like Job! What the devil meant for evil in my life, God is turning around for my good. I am blessed because I chose to walk in forgiveness!