Matthew 6 : 9 - 15
9 . . . . Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
There are people I really like and there are people I don't care to be around. There are even some people I wish I could feel better about but I have a difficult time making myself think good things about them. I don't "hate" them but I really don't like them much. Many of these folks are ones who have done something to cause me to feel that way. Also, many of the folks I really like, I like because they have done something to make me like them.
Think about it. Are there folks in your life that you feel the same about? Are there folks that you really like and are there folks that have done something to you to cause you to dislike them?
I was fortunate enough when attending college many years ago to have been able to work in the audio-visual department, part-time. It was my job to carry the film projector, screen, and film canister from the AV office to whichever classroom was scheduled to have a film in class that day. It didn't pay much but it helped me work my way through college. The greatest advantage was the number of educational films I was able to watch.
As it turned out, the department which used the most films was the psychology department. Not only did I get to watch many of the films over several times, I was also able to sit through the entire psychology class for an hour. I could almost boast that, after three years of showing films in psychology classes once or twice a day, I could claim to have some sort of minor degree in psychology - but I won't do that.
The one important thing I did learn from sitting through all of those classes and viewing those films was this: Human beings, like other animals, have a great tendency to react to things that happen around them. We all have to admit that there is generally a reason why we feel the way we feel about something. Sometimes we really can't remember why we feel that way because our opinion was formed so long ago that we have forgotten.
The other day I was trying to tell someone why I no longer shopped at a particular store. It was based upon the treatment I received from one of their associates. When it came time to describe the treatment, I couldn't remember the details. So much time had passed that I had forgotten exactly what it was that had offended me, but I will still never shop at that store again. That's a good illustration of how we form our likes and dislikes. There are some things we can remember that have formed our opinions and there are some things we can't recall - we just have that opinion.
We generally like our grandparents a lot. We usually like our parents a lot. When it comes to our brothers and sisters, our feelings may vary. Grandparents get the greatest amount of affection because they have generally supplied the greatest amount of affection without any obligations attached. Parents come in second to grandparents because, although they supply great amounts of affection, they are not as accommodating as grandparents. They often have to lay down the law and apply the punishment that comes with breaking that law. Brothers and sisters? They can be pretty cruel to each other - not at all as accommodating as grandparents.
The point here is that you can identify people in your life that you probably have a difficult time trying to forgive. They may have treated you wrong. They were wrong to do so - there is no question about it. You came out on the short end of the teeter-totter. You have proof that you have been run over. You may even have been cheated out of a great sum of money and there isn't a thing you can do about it.
How do most of us tend to react to these kinds of situations? We generally try to find some way to GET EVEN. What can we do to make that other person feel as bad as they have made us feel? How can we get back at them? If you have had these feelings, pat yourself on the back - you're normal. There is nothing wrong with your mind. You are an average sinner just like all the rest of us.
There is only one problem: It's pretty difficult for God to forgive you for any of your sins, even if you plead and ask Him over and over. Why? Matthew 6:15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
So, have you been having poor results lately in the area of answered prayer? Are there things you are praying about that you are actually claiming God's promises for and it seems like He isn't delivering? To come to the point - Would you like to see more of your prayers answered with the word, "YES?"
Mark 11 : 24 - 26
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Maybe it is time to really forgive someone you have been bitter against for some time now. Maybe that's the reason things are falling apart in your life. Maybe that's why you can't get prayers answered. Your Heavenly Father has some bitter feelings toward you. Think about it! How does it make you feel to have the God of the universe feel bitter each time you cross His mind? How does it feel to know that each time you pray you are just reminding Him of how much He dislikes your attitude. That's not the kind of position I would want to find myself locked into and I doubt that is what you want.
You may be thinking, "Well, I have forgiven that person but I still can't forget what they did." Or, "I forgave them once but it didn't make me feel any better." Or, "I forgave them but nothing seemed to change." Maybe you haven't really forgiven them because you really don't understand the concept of forgiveness. Unless you understand what forgiveness means, it may be that you haven't really exercised the method of actually forgiving.
Look closely at the word "FORGIVE."
Dictionary definitions:
For: Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.
Give: To yield possession of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something;
The word, FORGIVE, is really two words in one. When we look at the first part, FOR, it is pretty clear that we are the ones to take the first action. This eliminates any possibility of thinking about getting even. We are not to get even. We are to be way out ahead of the other person. We are to be the first to act without any consideration of what may come next. We are sticking our neck out without regard to what it may cost. We are trusting God, again.
The second part of the word, GIVE, is pretty clearly understood. We are yielding. We are not bending. A twig can be bent but all the while it is trying to resist and return back to its original shape. Yielding is much different from bending. Yielding is the process of releasing all of our ability to return to our original position.
Yes, the word, FORGIVE, is a powerful word. Study it until you understand what it means and how much it can change your attitude. Then apply it to that relationship that has been haunting you all this time. Pray about it and, if it is appropriate, come face-to-face with that person you really need to forgive.
To forgive is to totally release ownership of debt. You are saying to the debtor, "You are free. You owe me nothing. I am completely satisfied with our relationship."
I believe that is how the Lord handles the forgiveness of our sins. That is, if we forgive others in the same manner.
Think of the benefits you will receive when all is completed. You will feel better. Your Heavenly Father will be so proud of you. And, you will probably see many more answers to prayer.
God bless you.