Forgive and Be Forgiven
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:24-25
Mark 11:24 highlights that when we are faithful and obedient to God, we have the ability to ask what we want in prayer; and if we believe it, it will be ours. This isn’t a promise to grant every wish—the request must align with God’s will. But it is a set up for Mark 11:25 which continues: if we hold ANYTHING against ANYONE, we must forgive them.
Verse 24 is important because for us to forgive others, we first must cleanse our heart of the unforgiveness that resides within us. And that cleansing can only come from God. In our own strength, it is difficult to forgive others who have wronged us. You might be saying, “You don’t know what they did to me, said to me, or how it made me feel. You don’t know the effects that it has had on my life.” And you are right, I do not. What I do know is this verse does not say, “if you hold anything against anyone forgive them *BUT,* *UNLESS,* or *IF* you feel like it, because the truth is we probably will never “feel like it.”
None of us are perfect. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. However, if you want to see change, you must first earnestly pray for God to first change your heart and even forgive yourself. Then you are in a better position to forgive others.
Who do you need to forgive today? Who did something to you that you just cannot let go of? Whatever it might be, forgive them today—not for their sake, but for yours—so that your father may forgive your sins!
Mark 11:24 highlights that when we are faithful and obedient to God, we have the ability to ask what we want in prayer; and if we believe it, it will be ours. This isn’t a promise to grant every wish—the request must align with God’s will. But it is a set up for Mark 11:25 which continues: if we hold ANYTHING against ANYONE, we must forgive them.
Verse 24 is important because for us to forgive others, we first must cleanse our heart of the unforgiveness that resides within us. And that cleansing can only come from God. In our own strength, it is difficult to forgive others who have wronged us. You might be saying, “You don’t know what they did to me, said to me, or how it made me feel. You don’t know the effects that it has had on my life.” And you are right, I do not. What I do know is this verse does not say, “if you hold anything against anyone forgive them *BUT,* *UNLESS,* or *IF* you feel like it, because the truth is we probably will never “feel like it.”
None of us are perfect. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. However, if you want to see change, you must first earnestly pray for God to first change your heart and even forgive yourself. Then you are in a better position to forgive others.
Who do you need to forgive today? Who did something to you that you just cannot let go of? Whatever it might be, forgive them today—not for their sake, but for yours—so that your father may forgive your sins!
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