“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
—James 3:13

Wisdom and understanding release our ability to forgive.

Forgiveness is extremely important for walking in the Spirit. Jesus said, “If you forgive others for their trans- gressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14–15). When Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer, He said we should ask the Father to “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). This is how important forgive- ness is to God. But how do we acquire the ability to for- give? Once again, through wisdom and understanding.

When Jesus was on the cross about to give up His life, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In other words, Jesus had compassion on them because He had the understanding to see that those who mocked Him, plucked out His beard, and crucified Him didn’t know what they were doing. They were in darkness and without understanding.

Often when people do things that offend us, they do those things because they are afraid and insecure. When we have wisdom, we will be able to see that. And when we see that, we will be able to have compassion on them just as Jesus had compassion on those who crucified Him. We will be able to see their need and have mercy. The Spirit’s wisdom and understanding will free us to show them the love of God. This will not only please the Lord; it will allow us to have peace and to overcome. Beloved, I encourage you to ask God for wisdom today, because those who attain it obtain victory.

Father God, crown me today with Your mind. Give me the gift of wisdom, even as You gave Solomon wisdom. Father, in Yeshua’s name, I ask that You also give me understanding so I can see beyond what people say and do, discern what is really motivating them, and respond to them with love, compassion, and forgiveness.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Divine Truth (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.