Colossians 2:13 (NKJV): And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
I can personalize the above verse this way: In Christ, I have been forgiven of all trespasses and now made alive together with Him.
The word 'forgive' here is 'charizomai' in Greek (from the word 'charis', which means 'grace, gift, joy liberality'). According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, this word 'forgive' can mean 'to freely give ('charis') and let go (of that person/situation) with liberality, or to grant favor and kindness (to that person)'. In short, to forgive is to give grace.
The words 'made alive together' here is 'suzoopoieo' in Greek, which actually means 'to be made alive by being in union with Him, i.e. communion with Him'. It means your communication with God is no more dead, but is made alive!
Remember, God is not dead! He is still very much alive today, and will always be! And He still very much wants to communicate with you today, as He did Moses, Elijah, or David. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So, 'to be made alive together' here means you are not dead or numb spiritually so much so until you can't 'catch' what God wants to say to you! Many believers today miss out on what God has in store for them simply because they are spiritually too 'numb' to hear from Him!
See the co-relation between 'forgiveness' and 'being led by the Holy Spirit'?
Forgiveness leads to you being made alive together with God (i.e. alive in your communion with Him). And when you are communing with Him, you'll hear His direction and guidance, for sure. He is the One leading you, like a senior partner leading a junior partner in a partnership! (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Note: 'To commune with Him' is 'to communicate with Him (2 Corinthians 13:14) and being in union with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17)'.
Forgiveness leads to you hearing correctly (and objectively), not just in ministering to others, but also in hearing "what's God and what's not" in your own everyday life!
Beloved of God, receive forgiveness (for your own guilt, wrongs or sins) from Him (Colossians 2:13), and then let this 'river' of forgiveness flow out as you forgive others (i.e. to give grace, and to let go with liberality). Romans 5:8 says, 'God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us'. You see, forgiveness takes a big heart, and God has indeed shown us the example (see Romans 5:8). As He is, so should we be in this world! So, freely you receive His forgiveness, freely you also release forgiveness to others.
Forgiveness opens the channel for you to hear from God correctly, and that's how you'll always be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things (instead of ending up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, all the time!). When there's forgiveness, the flow of the Spirit through you will not be hindered any more! No more 'rubbish' (e.g. hurts, bitterness, grudges, etc) in the 'river'! Now, this, my friend, is the key to hearing from God correctly, be it for your own life, or as you minister to others.
When you allow Him to lead you this way and live a 'let go' life, your life will also be restful. In fact, there's no better way to live your life than by 'letting go' and flowing with the 'river' of His Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, 'for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are called sons of God'.
I heard these words during a prayer gathering recently, and I want to share it with you today:
"As you let go of the old ways, and as you let go of the people of your past (especially those who have hurt you), My grace is sufficient for you to receive My new ways and My new things. There'll be renewed and fresh impartation I'm giving you. You'll meet new people and experience new things... better things... and even things that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things that I have already prepared for you."
In Jesus' name. Amen.
