Forgive To Be Forgiven

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NKJV 

Many times we don’t think of forgiveness as part of prayer, but it is. Jesus included forgiveness in His model. He prayed forgive us our debts; this is not pertaining to a financial arrangement between people. The debt referred to here is transgressions against God. This petition asks God to forgive us. This includes the things we know we should do, but didn’t: sins of omission and things we know we shouldn’t do, but did anyway: sins of commission. 

We also have the transgressions against each other. These transgressions are also debts we need to come to God and ask for forgiveness. The second part, as we forgive our debtors, is laid at our feet. When we come before God we want His forgiveness. How we handle this part of the petition dictates how we are forgiven in the first part of the petition. Matthew 6:14 says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  That places a lot of responsibility on all of us. We all want forgiveness from God but we determine how God administers our forgiveness. When there is difficulty letting go of hurt and pain that reluctance becomes the manner in which God forgives you. So let us make forgiveness our lifestyle so that God will easily forgive us.

Thought for Today: The way you forgive others is the way God forgives you.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.