A Prayer to Forgive Others as Christ Forgives Me - Your Daily Prayer - January 30
Your Daily Prayer
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By Keneesha Saunders-Liddie, Crosswalk.com
A Prayer to Forgive Others as Christ Forgives Me
By Keneesha Saunders Liddie
Bible Reading:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. - Matthew 6:14-15
Listen or Read Below:
After Charlie Kirk was tragically shot, his wife, Erika, was able to offer forgiveness to the man who took her husband’s life. I know that it seems far-fetched and unbelievable, but this is what Christ expects from us. I can recall holding a grudge against someone who told a lie about me that almost ruined my testimony in my early years of Christianity. I couldn’t believe that someone who claimed to be a child of God would make up such a damaging lie about me just to make themselves look better to other unbelievers. It was with bitter tears that I had to go to God and repent because I had also sinned, just like my brother in Christ did. Holding on to grudges and refusing to forgive others who have wronged us separates us from God.
For us to be on our way to heaven, to accept the gift of salvation, we have to seek God’s forgiveness. And it was freely given without judgment or malice. God isn’t holding a grudge against us. He knows that this is the only way we can come to Him, and He has accepted us into His family and forgiven us of our sins. I am deeply grateful that forgiveness has been extended to me. Are you?
I believe that God will help me to forgive others because nothing can separate me from his love. People can tell lies, they can take our lives, satan can sift us as wheat, but God is still for us. And God won't let anything happen that he doesn’t permit. When we forgive others like Christ forgives us, we display the love of Jesus to other believers and the world. We extend grace to others because grace has been extended to us. We did nothing to deserve it, and it costs us nothing to extend it to others. We release bitterness and have the peace of walking in freedom with our God.
Another key to forgiving others like Christ forgives us is to keep the lines of communication, fellowship, and relationship open with Jesus. Remember that we are finite creatures, just sinners saved by grace. This means that we will still sin as believers, we can mess up, and grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Our relationship with God will be hindered if we can't extend forgiveness to others. How will our relationship be restored unless we pray and repent to God our Father? It would be beneficial for us to forgive others for Jesus' sake, so that our relationship with God remains intact.
Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive my brother who has sinned against me?” Jesus’ reply was 'seventy times seven' to imply that if God can forgive us our sins, we can forgive others who wrong us. Jesus forgives us when we trust in Him, and He forgives us our sins even as we grow in sanctification. Let us also forgive those who have wronged us in the name of Jesus.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
How excellent is thy name, oh Lord. There is no one like and none beside you. Thank you for sending your son to die in my stead so that I can be forgiven. Thank you for forgiving me all my sins and casting them into the sea of forgetfulness. What a merciful God you are. I did nothing to earn or deserve your forgiveness, and you have extended it to me by your grace. Even when I make a mistake and sin, you forgive me once I confess my sins to you. You have said in your
Word, if we say we have no sin, we lie, and the truth is not in us.
So, I confess my sins to you, dear Lord. If there is someone in my heart that I’m holding a grudge against, please forgive me, Lord. And help me to go to that brother or sister and forgive them. If there is someone who is withholding forgiveness from me, Lord, I pray that they open up and let your light shine through them. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to forgive others as you forgive me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Thiago Barletta
Keneesha Saunders-Liddie is a wife and mom. She is an avid reader of wholesome romance novels and a writer. She has a Master's in Biblical Counseling as she believes in the sufficiency of Scripture. As a pastor’s kid, she fell in love with the way Jesus loved her at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Him through her words. You can find more musings from her at keneeshaliddie.com
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