Teach us to pray #6
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Good morning, Lord
Verse of the Day: Luke 11: 4"...for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us."
Memory verse: Psalm 90:14
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Today's reading: NEHEMIAH 4-7 ACTS 2:22-47
Teach Us To Pray #6
Have you been praying our memory verse or have you tried to incorporate it with your regular prayer time? If it still feels 'a bit odd' to ask God to satisfy us, one of the reasons may be that you are withholding forgiveness for something done in the past.
"What happens when I don't forgive?"
There are two things that I have to consider when I withhold forgiveness.
Number 1- Jesus said this just after His model prayer in Matthew 6:
"15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Many have a hard time with this because Jesus died for all sin once for all times-and He did and we are forgiven in Christ. But the holy Spirit, in the work of sanctification, will not let our guilty hearts rest until we confess it. Confession means a guilt-free consciousness.
That is from the divine direction.
Number two-(for me) is my condemning heart. We get a double whammy-The Holy Spirit of God and our own condemning heart. When we confess and God has forgiven us, it is sometimes hard to let it go and forgive ourselves and this takes much prayer and self/Holy Spirit work.(This can get really complicated so humble yourself before God and tell Him everything-He knows it all anyway-1 John 3:20 ►"If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.")
But when we don't forgive-our own heart condemns us along with the Holy Spirit's conviction. How can we carry a load like that when we don't have to?
This may be another reason for so much of our country being on antidepressants-we can't let hurt go-somehow the enemy has convinced some that there is some twisted pleasure or display of strength in holding a grudge.
NOTICE-there is absolutely no reward in the abuse of alcohol, drugs, politics, or shouldering the burden of the spirit of unforgiveness-nothing but heartache and anxiety-pain.
Snap out of it-wake up-forgive and be free the way God wants us to be in Christ. Love what God is doing in you enough to let it all go.
Once you truly forgive and repent-God will never-ever bring it up again. Listen to Him-not the lesser enemy.
Listen to The Holy Spirit...
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, Hallowed and Holy God,
Forgive me for listening to all the lesser influences around me. Still my mind. Shine Your light of truth on my ways. Forgive me.
Gracious and kind God,
In the name my The Lord Jesus,
Amen
