Embrace genuine healing and restoration from God today and walk in the freedom of forgiveness through a powerful prayer to forgive.
Forgiving someone who has hurt us badly is never easy.
Whether the offender is a family member, a special someone, a friend, a relative, or even ourselves, to be betrayed by people dear to us can inflict deep wounds in our hearts and leave a significant scar in our lives that a simple sorry cannot easily heal.
However, God instructs us in Colossians 3:13 to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us.
Forgiveness can free us from the chains of pain and anger that take root when we are wronged.
Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of forgiveness.
He demonstrated His love and offered forgiveness toward wretched sinners like us by willingly bearing our sins at Calvary and paying its penalty.
While hanging on the cross, He said at His last hour, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
If you’re still struggling to forgive others or yourself, remember that a prayer to forgive is the first step toward healing and restoration.
Take a moment to choose and recite any of the powerful prayers below, and allow God’s strength and peace to fill your heart.
What is a Prayer to Forgive?
A prayer to forgive is an honest and humble dialogue with God in which we unleash feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, and vengeance toward someone who offends, betrays, or hurts us.
By whispering prayers of forgiveness, we invite God’s mercy and grace to work in and through us, enabling us to release our grievances.
What does it mean to forgive?
Forgiving is more than just accepting the offender’s apology.
As stated in Ephesians 4:32, Jesus calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
True forgiveness is a conscious and intentional decision we make to grow and move forward in life.
It involves releasing the power that the offender holds over us and using that power for our personal growth.
When we choose to forgive and maintain a relationship with someone, we also commit to not using their past mistakes against them.
In addition, forgiveness is not based on feelings or emotions; it’s a daily decision we must make.
Forgiving someone does not make us weak.
In fact, it takes a courageous heart to acknowledge pain and forgive it.
Why do we need a prayer to forgive others?
A prayer to forgive is vital for our spiritual well-being.
When we speak prayers to forgive, we obey the Lord’s command to love one another as He has loved us.
It cultivates in us a compassionate heart for both our brethren and enemies.
Such prayer also brings peace and a clear conscience to us, heals our brokenness, and sets us free from the weight of grudges and the bondage of past wounds.
When we pray for forgiveness, we humbly open ourselves to the possibility of reconciliation with God, ourselves, and others who have wronged us.
Steps on How to Forgive
Take your time
Forgiveness is not a single, one-time decision; it is an ongoing practice in the Christian life.
It takes time, grace, and willingness to let go and move forward in life.
It’s not a race to the finish line, nor does it require a stopwatch to heal under the pressure of time.
It is God’s process of casting all the pain and hurts at His feet daily and choosing to release, pardon, and grow.
Take your time and trust God’s process.
Tell the truth
Be honest about your feelings.
Though it takes courage and a leap of faith to speak up to someone who has hurt you, it is essential for your healing.
Pray that God prepares their hearts to hear the truth.
If they cannot accept it, ask God to give you the strength to let go of the relationship and move forward.
If it’s His will, He can restore what is broken in His perfect time.
Own your part
Take accountability for any hurt you may have caused.
Reflect on your behavior toward them and be responsible for it.
Avoid playing the victim or taking sides if you know you’ve inflicted a wound on them, too.
Open your heart
Look at your offenders through the lens of grace and remember that no one is perfect; thus, everyone commits mistakes.
By acknowledging this, we are creating room in our hearts for empathy and compassion, even for imperfect people who are prone to being at fault, just like us.
10 Powerful Prayers for Forgiveness
A Prayer to Help You Forgive Others
Lord God, help me forgive others as You have forgiven me.
Your word says that I must forgive my brethren who have sinned against me seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22), but I don’t have the power to do it on my own.
I am badly hurt by people I dearly love.
Hence, I do not want to carry this pain any longer.
Lord, I need your enabling grace to release the weight of anger and bitterness that reside in my heart.
Do not let my pride swallow me.
Heal me and restore my soul.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Powerful Prayer for Forgiveness
Dear Lord, my heart is burdened with resentment as I whisper this prayer.
I find it hard and challenging to forgive those who have wronged me.
The wound they’ve brought into my heart is still fresh and weighs heavy on my conscience.
Help me extend forgiveness to them, Lord, just as You have forgiven me.
Teach me to love my enemies, and grant me grace and courage to let go of my grudges so that I may walk in the freedom of forgiveness.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Prayer to God for Forgiveness of Sins
Heavenly Father, I humbly come before Your throne of grace and mercy, asking for forgiveness for the sins I’ve done.
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and in desperate need of a Savior.
Lord, I repent from my sins.
Wash them away through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
I believe that He died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day for my salvation.
At this moment, I place my faith in You, knowing that You alone can save me from eternal damnation.
I invite Jesus to come into my life, sit on the throne of my heart, and be my Lord and Savior.
Thank You for Your gift of eternal life.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer to Forgive Others
Father, I release the unforgiveness in my heart.
Today, I choose to forgive everyone who hurt me.
Fill my heart with compassion and peace, and let it rule in my heart.
Help me bless those who persecute me and love those who curse me.
Grant me Your wisdom so I become slow to speak and quick to listen.
Let the Holy Spirit empower me to walk in Christlikeness each day.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
For Self-Forgiveness
My loving Father, I apologize for my negative words about myself.
Forgive me in those moments when I become too hard and harsh on myself because of my shortcomings and failures, and I tend to forget that I am Your child.
Forgive me, too, for hurting people just because I am hurt.
Help me unleash the heaviness of guilt and shame that I’ve been carrying for so long.
Teach me to learn from my mistakes and strive to be a better servant.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for a Repentant Heart
O God, I ask for Your mercy to cleanse me from all my unrighteous thoughts, words, and deeds.
Accept this prayer of repentance, mend my brokenness, and make me whole again.
I acknowledge that I have fallen short of Your glory and cannot be righteous in my own efforts.
Help me walk in holiness, grow in faith, and please You as long as I live.
Always create a clean and pure heart in me, Lord, and make me do the right thing.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To Forgive a Friend
Lord, I’ve been badly hurt by a dear friend.
The pain runs so deep in my heart that I can barely imagine how they’ve done such a thing to me.
But today, I am choosing to forgive them for the hurt they’ve caused me.
Help me look at them through Your compassionate eyes and extend grace to them.
Bring genuine healing and restoration in my heart, Lord, and give us the wisdom and courage to rekindle our friendship with empathy, joy, and trust.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Forgiving When You Can’t Forget
Gracious Father, please remind me of the power of Your forgiveness so that I may also learn to forgive others, even if the scar is still visible.
You said in Hebrews 8:12 that You will forgive our wickedness and no longer remember our sins.
Help me live by Your example of extending mercy and forgiveness to sinners like me and forgetting everything behind.
It’s not easy to forget, but I know that when I surrender all the grudges and rages to Your hands, entirely and completely, I’ll be able to start over again and move forward in life.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Forgiving Family Who Has Caused Pain
Merciful Lord, I turn my eyes on You with my heart shattered in pieces because of a loved one’s betrayal.
My soul aches for their intolerable actions, but I long to forgive them and unleash the burden of resentment in me.
Heal my wounded heart, Lord, and fill me with Your unfailing compassion so that I may learn to love them despite our conflict.
Fix the brokenness within our bond and make our relationship intact again.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Prayer for the Unkind Person in Your Life
Lord God, I lift (insert his/her name) to You for their unkind actions toward me.
Though I do not understand why they misbehave around me and treat me harshly, I know You’ve put them in my life for a purpose.
Help me love, be kind, and pray for them, like how Jesus showed love and kindness to His enemies.
Help me look at them through Your gracious and merciful eyes, Lord, that I may learn to understand and extend Your mercy and grace to them.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Bible Verses About Forgiveness
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
Luke 17:3-4
So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Conclusion
May these short yet powerful prayers to forgive help you as you seek genuine healing and restoration today, whether in your relationships or yourself.
Do not let bitterness and resentment rule in your heart, nor do your wounds from the past continue to weigh your soul down.
Ask God to help you forgive others today as He has forgiven you, and allow Him to guide you toward your walk in the freedom of forgiveness.
