PRAYING FOR WILLINGNESS TO PASS ON FORGIVENESS

Forgiving others is something we must take very seriously if we want to live well and be what we say we are – followers of Jesus Christ.

You and I can never make up for all the wrongs we have done. Through the finished work of Jesus, God forgives us and no longer counts our sins against us.  Operating out of this secure foundation, we will have the grace and strength we need to support our efforts in seeking reconciliation with others.

It would be impossible for us to risk taking the first step in forgiving someone who has harmed us had God not demonstrated the way.  We failed to keep God’s commandments and yet He was willing to sacrifice His Son in payment for our sin. 

If we will simply admit that we’ve done wrong, turn away from it, and trust Jesus for forgiveness, He will gladly give us new life. 

In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.

 2 Corinthians 5:19

God didn’t wait for us to come to Him.  He prepared in advance.  He reached out to us with this wonderful gift when we didn't dare approach Him.  It’s with this heart for reconciliation that we follow God and reflect His heart  as we work on relationships where we are experiencing troubles. 

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13

Hanging on to a bitter grudge and seeking revenge only sickens our soul and damages those who are close to us. Bitterness is like a cancer that feeds on our insides and shows itself in outbursts of irritability, anger and resentment. 

Today it would do each of us good to ask ourselves, “Who do I need to forgive?  Am I ready to invite God into the pain and the injustice and ask Him to show me a way to peace through forgiveness?”

Heavenly Father, You have forgiven us for so many wrongs.  You’ve made a way for us to live in peace with You and You now call us to extend that way of peace to others – particularly those with whom we currently have struggles. 

Even though it is difficult for us,  we commit to giving our best effort to forgiving others as we have been forgiven. If we’re going to be able to make those efforts we need Your healing for the ways we’ve been wounded and harmed.  We need Your Holy Spirit to fill us with courage and strength so we can make the first move towards creating peace with others.

We trust You to work Your  amazing power in us that was alive in Jesus when He took our sins on Himself on the cross, died for us and then rose with power over all of sin and death. Help us to live out Your own words when You taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Amen