Unforgiveness can tie us to someone’s wrongdoing, or to a painful event. This can give Satan a foothold, a legal right against us. Paul writes about this in his second letter to the Corinthians:
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)

There are three dimensions to forgiveness:
Forgiving others
Receiving God’s forgiveness
Sometimes also forgiving ourselves.

Forgiveness Prayer
Father, you have made it clear that you want me to forgive. You want me to experience the healing and freedom that forgiveness brings. Today, I choose to forgive everyone who has caused me to sin [name them], and everyone who has hurt me [name them]. I choose to let go of them all, for the wrongs they have done [name the wrongs]. I release all judgments and punishments I have held against them in my heart. I entrust [name them] to you, because you are the only righteous judge.
Lord, please forgive me for the times when my own reactions hurt others and myself.
Based on your forgiveness, I choose to forgive myself for allowing that hurt to affect my attitudes and actions.
Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me to forgive, for giving me the grace I need, and for empowering me to continue forgiving.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.