Memories have a way of sneaking back in…sometimes in the quiet, sometimes when you least expect them. A word, a song, a place can stir up the pain of what was done, what was said, or what was lost. And in that moment, it feels fresh again.

That’s when forgiveness is tested. Forgiveness isn’t always a one-time decision, it’s often a daily choice. Sometimes, it’s an every time you remember choice.

Every time the memory rises, you can either nurse the wound or release it again into the hands of God. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay, it means you won’t let it chain your soul anymore.

Jesus reminded us: “Then Peter came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven’” (Matthew 18:21–22).

Because every time you forgive again, you choose peace.

Every time you forgive again, you choose life.

Every time you forgive again, you choose joy.

Paul wrote, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

It’s not about forgetting, it’s about refusing to let bitterness steal the beauty of today. It’s about living free.

So the next time that memory shows up, whisper to yourself: “I forgive again. I choose peace. I choose life. I choose joy.”

And then breathe in the freedom that comes with it. For “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

And here’s the truth, friend…you don’t have to carry that weight anymore. You don’t have to keep dragging the hurt with you into every tomorrow. You can lay it down. You can be free. Free to breathe deeper. Free to smile without the shadow of bitterness. Free to step fully into the joy God has for you.

This is your release. Your reminder that you are not bound to the pain of yesterday. You are a child of God, and forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door to your freedom.

Choose peace. Choose life. Choose joy. And when the memory comes back….choose it again.

And Every Time You Remember… Forgive Again.