The Holy Spirit has filled my heart too much for me to hold that grudge against you. Our God is too big for us to hate others.

By Christ's power, we forgive the person we're angry with.

Forgiveness is when you turn to the Lord in prayer and say, "God, by the grace of Jesus I want you to know I forgive this person. You forgave me. I forgive them. I can't hold against this person more than what you chose not to hold against me." You have the power, because of the cross, to say, "I forgive you.

Do not do wrong to a person to pay him back for doing wrong to you. Or do not insult someone to pay him back for insulting you. But ask God to bless that person. Do this, because you yourselves were called to receive a blessing. —1 PETER 3:9 ICB

As I forgive myself, it becomes easier to forgive others.

When an offense occurs, a debt is owed. You have heard it said, "He'll pay for this." So forgiveness is like the cancellation of a debt.

Jesus said, "It is impossible that no offenses should come" (Luke 17:1). It is not a question of opportunity to be offended, but what your response will be. It is an unfortunate fact that, not some, but many are offended and held captive.

Do not be afraid to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any unforgiveness or bitterness. The longer you hide it, the stronger it will become and the harder your heart will grow. Stay tenderhearted. How? Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. —EPHESIANS 4:31-32

Satan, you are the enemy of my soul, and I refuse to allow you to ensnare me in your hidden and baited trap of offense against my brothers and sisters in Christ.

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle. —PROVERBS 18:19

We probably don't have to convince you that your spouse isn't perfect. No one is! But mistakes create opportunities for us to extend God's grace. Our willingness to forgive is one of the greatest evidences of Christ within us.

But ground will produce only what is planted in it. If we plant seeds of debt, unforgiveness, and offense, another root will spring up in place of the love of God. It is called the root of bitterness.