Daily Prayer And Forgiveness

Good Morning!! When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He responded with what is commonly known as the "Lord's prayer." It included a specific request for forgiveness. And I think it's evident from the content of the prayer, that our Lord meant for us to pray it daily,...because it includes a request for this day's daily bread. It's equally plain that Jesus is instructing us to confess our sins daily, and ask for God's forgiveness. Too often we allow a long time to pass, and too many un-confessed sins to build up,...before we go to the Lord in prayer. As a result, we begin to feel distant from God,...then our guilty conscience makes it harder, and more uncomfortable, to go to our Father in prayer.

This, then, is how you should pray:—Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

 

For this very reason, it is best to keep "short accounts" with God. Going to Him regularly with our sin debt,...and allowing Him to wipe it clean. We then delight to go to Him,...for a regular time of confession, communion, and refreshing. Notice, also, how this daily forgiveness is tied purposefully and inseparably to our own forgiveness of others. Jesus, in effect, couches this prayer in such a way that we must either forgive others completely and daily, or we are cursing ourselves each time we pray! "Forgive us as we forgive others," Jesus tells us to pray. Don't forget to take your sin-debt to God in prayer,...today.

 

Are you really forgiving others, as you yourself have been forgiven?

 

Holy Spirit of God, help us to forgive and bless all others, as we ourselves have been forgiven, and continue to be blessed. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

"The less we trust, the more we fear."