Everyone has had unfair things happen to them. We’ve all been wronged, hurt and rejected. Some wounds cut deeper than others, but when all is said and done, we have a choice to make.

When someone wrongs you, they are racking up emotional debt. The problem is that the person who wronged you doesn’t have the capacity to pay you back. If you are waiting for that person to make up the difference and mend your heart, you’re going to be waiting for an eternity. Whether they apologize or not, whether they admit they were wrong or not, only Jesus can heal your heart and restore your soul.

Imagine that you are going to pay your bills one month, and every bill you pull out is stamped “Paid in Full.” And not only are all your debts paid in full, but every debt that is owed to you is also stamped “Paid in Full.” All your debts are paid and your bank account is full! Wouldn’t that be nice? Well, that’s what God wants to do for you on a spiritual and emotional level. He wants to pay all of your debts, but it’s an all-or-nothing deal. You have to look to Him for repayment of all the wrongs done to you instead of looking to the people who have hurt you. You must forgive others and let God make up the difference or else He cannot pay your debts and forgive you.

Today, even though someone may have lied about you, betrayed you or mistreated you, don’t let that keep you from experiencing the fullness of God’s blessing. Don’t look to people to pay you back because only God can do that. Instead of trying to collect from those who have hurt you and thinking they owe you, get out that big red stamp and mark the account “Paid in Full.” When you see that person, imagine those big red letters “Paid in Full.” It’s very freeing to say, “Nobody owes me anything. They may have hurt me, they may have cheated me, they may have stolen my childhood, but I’m not looking for people to pay me back; I’m looking for God to pay me back. I’m on God’s payroll! And the good news is that God never misses a payment! So mark your accounts “Paid in Full” and choose to forgive so that you can be truly free!

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, NIV).

I talk more about freedom through forgiveness in chapter 15 of my new book, Every Day A Friday. I hope you’ll pick up your copy so you can truly live in the joy and victory God has for you every single day!