An offense is a real or perceived wrong done to you. To forgive means to lay aside, forsake and let go of the offenses you are holding against another in thought, word and deed. 

There are others, but here are seven of the top biblical reasons why smart women forgive.

1. Smart women forgive so that God will not hold our sins against us.

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26

We can be saved and receive initial forgiveness, and yet if we hold unforgiveness against another God will remember our sins until we let go of the sins of others. When God remembers our sins he holds back His blessing, though He grants our needs our hearts desires are held up.

2.  Smart women forgive so that God will answer our prayers.

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

Peter was essentially saying, if we hold things against another it will hinder or prevent our prayers from being answered.

3. Smart women forgive so that the root of bitterness does not spring up and defile others.

 ^“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 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 12:14-15

Bitterness is the fruit of unforgiveness. When we allow bitterness to take root in us we defile others and corrupt their hearts with our issues.

4. Smart women forgive so God’s love can work through us.

“Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.” Proverbs 17:9

Holding unto unforgiveness is definitely not seeking love which God says we are to pursue, (1 Corinthians 14:1).

5. Smart women forgive so our faith will work.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Galatians 5:6

Faith only works by love. If we hold onto offenses of others we cannot walk in the love of God because God’s love forgives.

6. Smart women forgive so that we are not held captive for our sins.

“His master said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” Matthew 18:32-34

We owe God a debt we could not pay for the forgiveness of our sins, so He paid it with the blood of His Son. When we hold people hostage in unforgiveness because of what we think they owe us for the offenses they committed against us we may find ourselves lacking our very basic needs and in bondage of sorts until we forgive them.

 7. Smart women forgive so that God can work His out plan in our lives and the lives of the ones we forgive.

“Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:18-19

We close the door to God’s sovereign plan which is to bring people to repentance even when disciplining them when we triggered by unforgiveness try to take vengeance in our own hands.

Beloved, if you have any unforgiveness in your heart, I urge you to do the smart thing and forgive. Let it be like water under a bridge.