Father, in the Name of Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by not forgiving those who have offended me.  I repent of this and humbly ask Your forgiveness.

I also acknowledge my inability to forgive them apart from You.  Therefore, from my heart I choose to forgive [insert their names – release each one individually].

I bring under the blood of Jesus all that they have done wrong to me.  They no longer owe me anything.  I remit their sins against me.

Heavenly Father, as my Lord Jesus asked You to forgive those who had sinned against Him, I pray that Your forgiveness will come to those who have sinned against me.

I ask that You will bless them and lead them into a closer relationship with Yourself, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, I ask for Your grace to be able to forgive all those who I feel offended by.  Help me to understand that your grace is far more powerful than my beliefs and anything I could suffer.  I also ask for Your wisdom that I can understand that any trial I suffer is for my own good that I may be redeemed from the fiery pits of Hell.

I pray that you may give me strength to endure my trials and wisdom to understand that whatever I go through is for the best.  Show me the truth, that it is against your will for me to blame others for whatever I endure.  This is not the behaviour of your Son, whom I love and who is my example.

I must forgive as He did, that means to love with the love that is from you, however difficult that may be.  This is how I must take up your cross and follow you.  You did not want us to suffer, but through sin it became so.  You want us to be purified for our own happiness so that we may be in Your image, and as is Your Word, so must it be.

I am not alone.  You are with me always, even unto the end of the world.

As long as I pray, read the Bible and believe on the blood of Jesus and His holy name, I cannot fail.

Forgiveness Prayers

A prayer of forgiveness is a prayer that is offered up to God. Though we may directly hurt each other, all of our trespasses ultimately hurt God. You may wonder how this is possible. How can our shortcomings hurt the omnipotent Creator of the universe? Does God even care? In Genesis 6, we find that God Himself actually grieved over all the wrongs that man had inflicted upon each other:

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” (Genesis 6:5-6).

All knowing, God grieves even at the mere thought of evil. Thus, ultimate forgiveness must also come from God. However, because of His justice, forgiveness cannot be freely given. Every wrong must be accounted for in order for God to be a just judge. Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary in our place so that our sins may be forgiven. His suffering paid for our transgressions.

“For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  (Matthew 26:28).

In His love, God knew that our conscience needed to be freed from guilt and condemnation. He knew that forgiveness of sins was our greatest need. In the ultimate act of love, God not only suffered the pain of our wrongs, but also paid for their consequences in order that we may have forgiveness offered to us when we sin.  All we need to do is to accept His free gift of forgiveness.  [Thanks to about.com.]

Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling.  If we pray for a person, we can be assured that we have forgiven that person. To help accept an individual and open ourselves to a particular person more, picture him with the Lord Jesus and say to the Lord, “I love him because You love him. I forgive him because You forgive him.”

Forgiveness is a life-long obligation. Daily we need to forgive those who hurt or injure us.

The following prayer covers most significant areas of forgiveness. Often, such a prayer will bring to mind other areas that need forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit move freely and guide your mind to persons or groups that you need to forgive.

Additional or Alternative Prayers

[Best read aloud] Let us pray… Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive EVERYONE in my life. I know that You will give me the strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself.

Father, please forgive me for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or what I thought were punishments sent by You and people said, “It’s God’s will,” and I become bitter and resentful toward You.  Purify my heart and mind today.

Lord, I forgive MYSELF for my sins, faults and failings, for all that is bad in myself or that I think is bad, I forgive myself; and I accept Your forgiveness. I further forgive MYSELF for taking Your name in vain, not worshipping You by attending church, for hurting my parents, getting drunk, for sins against purity, bad books, bad movies, fornication, adultery, homosexuality. Also, I ask your forgiveness for abortion, stealing, lying, defrauding, hurting peoples’ reputation and other sins I have committed.

You have forgiven me today, and I forgive myself.

Thank You, Lord, for your grace at this moment. I also forgive MYSELF for any delvings in witchcraft, superstition and the occult, using ouija boards, horoscopes, going to séances, using fortune telling, lucky charms or anything else. I reject all that superstition and choose You alone as my Lord and Saviour, in the name of Jesus. Thank you for delivering me. Amen.

Lord, I truly forgive my MOTHER

I forgive my mother for all the times she hurt me, she resented me, she was angry with me and for all the times she punished me. I forgive her for the times she preferred my brothers and sisters to me. I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money. For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected, I forgive her, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I truly forgive my FATHER

I forgive my father for any non-support, any lack of love, affection or attention. I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking, arguing and fighting with my mother or the other children. For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I extend forgiveness to my SISTERS AND BROTHERS

I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, competed for my parents’ love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me. For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I forgive my SPOUSE

In the name of Jesus, I forgive my [husband/wife]for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communication; for faults, failings, weaknesses and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me.

Lord, I forgive my CHILDREN

I forgive [names] for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding; for their bad habits, falling away from the church, any bad actions which disturb me, in the name of Jesus.

Lord God, I forgive my IN-LAWS, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER-IN-LAW, SON/DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND OTHER RELATIVES BY MARRIAGE

I forgive all those who treat my family with a lack of love. For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions which injure and cause pain, I forgive them, in the name of Jesus.

Please help to forgive my RELATIVES, MY GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER, AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS

I forgive all those who may have interfered in our family, been possessive of my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other. I forgive them for every time they hurt me in some way, in the name of Jesus.

Jesus, help me to forgive my CO-WORKERS

I forgive all those who were or are disagreeable or make life miserable for me. For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me, won’t cooperate with me, try to take my job, I forgive them, in the name of Jesus.

I forgive My NEIGHBOURS

I forgive all those need to be forgiven, Lord. For all their noise, letting their property run down, not tying up their dogs who run through my yard, not taking in their trash barrels, being prejudiced, running down the neighborhood and for any gossiping, and etc. I do forgive them, in the name of Jesus.

I do forgive my CLERGYMAN, my CONGREGATION and my CHURCH

I forgive any lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, pettiness, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we needed, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past, I forgive them today, in the name of Jesus, and ask that you bless them.

Lord, I forgive ALL those who are of different PERSUASIONS

I forgive those of opposite political views who have attacked me, ridiculed me, discriminated against me, made fun of me, economically hurt me, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

I forgive those of different religious DENOMINATIONS AND BELIEFS

I forgive those who have harassed me, attacked me, argued with me, forced their view on me or my family, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

I forgive those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY

I forgive those who have discriminated against me, mocked me, made jokes about my race or nationality, hurt my family physically, emotionally  or economically, I do forgive them today, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I forgive all PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, DOCTORS, NURSES, LAWYERS, JUDGES, POLITICIANS AND CIVIL SERVANTS

I forgive those who have hurt me in any way, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

I forgive all SERVICE PEOPLE policemen, firemen, bus drivers, hospital workers and especially repairmen who have taken advantage of me in their work, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I forgive my EMPLOYER

I forgive any past and present employers for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry or unfriendly, for not promoting me, and for not complimenting me on my work, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I forgive my SCHOOLTEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS

I forgive any schoolteachers who have hurt me, in the past as well as the present. For those who punished me, humiliated me, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school, I truly forgive them today and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I forgive my FRIENDS

I forgive any friends who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my GREATEST ENEMY

In the name of Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for the ONE PERSON in life who has HURT ME THE MOST, and ask that you bless them.

I forgive the one who is the hardest to forgive or the one who I said I will never forgive, and ask that you bless them, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I beg pardon of all these people for the hurt I have inflicted on others, especially my MOTHER AND FATHER, AND MY MARRIAGE PARTNER, in the name of Jesus.

I am especially sorry for the greatest hurts I have inflicted on each of these.

Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed of the evil of unforgiveness.

Let Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened.

Amen.

From the book by Robert DeGrandis S.S.J. and Betty Tapscott:
Forgiveness and Inner Healing; Twenty-fourth Printing September 2001.
Permission to copy is granted by Father DeGrandis.