Why haven’t you forgotten your home address? Why haven’t you forgotten your phone number? By contrast, why have you forgotten most of the things that have happened in your life? We remember those things that we think about often and forget those things we ignore.

Joseph could have been a bitter man based on all the things that had been done to him—especially by his brothers. But when he was reunited with them, he not only forgave them, but he also acted as if they had never harmed him in the first place. And that is the evidence for forgiving and forgetting—acting as if the harm had never occurred. When it came time to bring his father’s family from Canaan to Egypt, he did everything possible to meet their needs. He treated his brothers as if they had never done anything ill towards him. We may never literally forget an injury done to us, but if we have truly forgiven, we will act as if it never occurred.

If there is someone you have forgiven but not forgotten, ask God for grace to act as if the injury had never happened.

God does not wish us to remember what He is willing to forget.
George A. Buttrick