Guest Speaker- RT Kendall Total Forgiveness
Scroll to read a recap of Dr RT Kendall’s sermon from April 19th, 2026
Let’s Break it Down
When we choose to forgive totally, we remove barriers that prevent God's power from flowing through us, positioning ourselves to be used by Him in extraordinary ways.
Key Takeaways
Total forgiveness is a decision and act of the will that goes against human nature but leads to spiritual freedom and anointing
The seven proofs of total forgiveness include: not telling what they did, not making them nervous, not making them feel guilty, letting them save face, protecting their secrets, praying for them, and blessing them
Unforgiveness keeps us in chains, while releasing others through forgiveness releases us
Total forgiveness is not a one-time event but a life sentence that requires ongoing commitment and prayer
God uses people He can trust - those who are free from bitterness and the desire for revenge
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5-Day Devotional
Day 1: The Choice That Changes Everything
Devotional
Forgiveness isn't just about saying the right words or going through the motions. It's about making a deliberate choice that goes against every natural instinct we have. When someone hurts us deeply, our hearts cry out for justice, for them to pay for what they've done. This is completely normal and human. But God calls us to something supernatural. He invites us to make a decision that defies logic and transcends our emotions. True forgiveness begins not with feeling better about what happened, but with choosing to release our grip on the hurt. It's an act of the will that says, "I choose to let this go, even though everything in me wants to hold on." This choice isn't a one-time event but often a daily decision. Some mornings you'll wake up and have to choose forgiveness all over again. That's okay. Each time you choose it, you're building spiritual muscle and positioning yourself for God's transformative power to work in your life. The beautiful truth is that when we make this choice, we're not just freeing the person who hurt us - we're freeing ourselves from the chains of bitterness and resentment that would otherwise hold us captive.
Bible Verse
'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' - 1 John 1:9
Reflection Question
What hurt are you holding onto that God is asking you to release through a deliberate choice to forgive?
Quote
Total forgiveness is a decision, a choice you make. God's not going to knock you down. You decide. It's an act of the will.
Prayer
Lord, give me the strength to choose forgiveness even when my emotions resist. Help me trust that Your way of release leads to freedom, not weakness.
Day 2: The Secret of Silence
Devotional
One of the hardest parts of being hurt is the overwhelming urge to tell others about it. We want people to know what was done to us, to see the injustice, to validate our pain. This desire feels so natural and justified that we rarely question it. But here's a profound truth: the first proof of total forgiveness is keeping silent about the offense. When we truly forgive, we protect the reputation of the person who hurt us. We don't broadcast their failures or seek sympathy by sharing our story. This doesn't mean we can't seek appropriate counsel or support when needed. But it does mean we stop using our pain as a weapon to damage someone else's reputation. We stop looking for allies in our hurt and instead become protectors of those who wounded us. This kind of silence requires incredible strength and maturity. It means we're more concerned with their well-being than with our own vindication. It's a supernatural response that can only come from God's grace working through us. When we choose this path of protective silence, something beautiful happens in our hearts. The bitterness begins to lose its grip, and we start to experience the freedom that comes from truly letting go.
Bible Verse
'Love keeps no record of wrongs.' - 1 Corinthians 13:5
Reflection Question
Who have you been talking to about your hurt that you need to stop discussing in order to protect someone's reputation?
Quote
The first proof that you've totally forgiven. You tell nobody.
Prayer
God, help me guard my tongue and protect the reputation of those who have hurt me. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.
Day 3: Making Peace, Not Proving Points
Devotional
When someone has wronged us, our natural instinct is to make them uncomfortable, to ensure they know exactly how much they've hurt us. We want them to squirm, to feel the weight of their actions, to acknowledge the pain they've caused. This feels like justice. But total forgiveness flips this script entirely. Instead of making our offenders uncomfortable, we actively work to put them at ease. We choose to be a source of peace rather than tension in their lives. This doesn't mean we're being fake or pretending nothing happened - it means we're choosing to respond with grace. Think about how Jesus treated those who betrayed and abandoned Him. He didn't make them grovel or prove their remorse. Instead, He offered them peace, restoration, and a fresh start. He made it easy for them to return to relationship with Him. This approach requires us to die to our need to be right, to our desire for acknowledgment of our pain. It means we value the other person's comfort and dignity more than our own vindication. It's a radical act of love that mirrors God's heart toward us. When we choose to make others comfortable instead of proving our points, we create space for healing and restoration that wouldn't otherwise be possible.
Bible Verse
'Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.' - Genesis 45:1
Reflection Question
How can you put someone who has hurt you at ease the next time you encounter them?
Quote
Total forgiveness is when you put them at ease.
Prayer
Lord, help me choose peace over proving points. Give me Your heart of grace toward those who have wounded me.
Day 4: The Power of Blessing Your Enemies
Devotional
Perhaps the most radical aspect of total forgiveness is actively praying for the blessing and success of those who have hurt us. This goes far beyond simply not wishing them harm - it means genuinely desiring good things for their lives. This kind of prayer doesn't come naturally. Everything in us wants to see our enemies get what they deserve, to watch them face consequences for their actions. But when we pray for their blessing, something supernatural happens in our own hearts. The bitterness begins to dissolve, and God's love starts to flow through us. Praying for those who have wronged us is like spiritual chemotherapy - it kills the cancer of resentment that would otherwise destroy us from the inside. Each prayer for their welfare is a step toward our own freedom and healing. This doesn't mean we pray for God to overlook their sin or excuse their behavior. Rather, we pray for their genuine repentance, their spiritual growth, their relationships to be healed, and their lives to flourish under God's grace. We become partners with God in His desire to redeem and restore them. When we reach this level of forgiveness, we discover that we've been transformed in the process. The person who can genuinely bless their enemies has experienced the deepest work of God's grace.
Bible Verse
'But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.' - 1 Timothy 4:1
Reflection Question
What specific blessings can you begin praying for in the life of someone who has hurt you?
Quote
What that means is, do you let your enemy off the hook? And not only do you let them off the hook, you pray for them.
Prayer
Father, soften my heart to genuinely desire blessing for those who have wounded me. Help me see them through Your eyes of love and redemption.
Day 5: The Anointing That Comes Through Suffering
Devotional
Here's a truth that might surprise you: your greatest pain can become the source of your greatest spiritual power. When we choose total forgiveness in the face of deep hurt, God releases an anointing in our lives that wouldn't be possible any other way. This isn't about seeking suffering or glorifying pain. It's about recognizing that when we respond to betrayal, injustice, and hurt with radical forgiveness, we position ourselves to receive a special measure of God's grace and authority. The deeper the wound, the greater the potential for anointing when we choose to forgive completely. Think about the most influential people in your spiritual life. Chances are, they've walked through significant pain and chosen forgiveness over bitterness. Their suffering, transformed by grace, became the very thing that qualified them to minister to others with unusual power and authenticity. This anointing isn't just for pastors or ministry leaders - it's available to anyone who will pay the price of total forgiveness. When you choose to bless instead of curse, to release instead of hold grudges, to pray instead of plot revenge, you're positioning yourself for God to use you in extraordinary ways. Your pain doesn't have to be wasted. When filtered through forgiveness, it becomes the very thing that qualifies you to bring healing to others who are hurting.
Bible Verse
'Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!' - Genesis 45:4
Reflection Question
How might God want to use your experience of pain and forgiveness to bring healing to others?
Quote
The greater the suffering, the greater the anointing. And if you have gone through that and forgive the angels in heaven say, congratulations, you got a promise of blessing no one else has.
Prayer
Lord, transform my pain into purpose through the power of forgiveness. Use my story of grace to bring hope to others who are struggling to forgive.