Day 9 – Learn to Forgive Others
Mark 11:25 (ESV)
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
I heard a fantastic message from Francis Chan yesterday, he said that not all prayers are heard or answered. Here are some excerpts from the message:
‘Not all prayers are heard or listened to. The book of James says God listens to the prayers of a righteous!’
‘You can pray all day with all your friends & even cut yourselves but no one hears unless you pray to the one and only God, Yahweh, your prayers will go unheard!’
‘Everything is about God & your prayers need to be about His will & not just your passions.’
‘Humble yourself in prayer because you can pray only because Christ paid for your sins!’
‘Humbly pray & turn from your wicked ways & then God will hear your prayers!’
‘People are praying and fasting and God is saying talk to the hand! Pour yourself out for the poor and then pray!’
Jesus adds here that we need to forgive others as we approach our God in prayer. I once was preparing to speak about the power of the cross over sin, and while vacuuming, realized I was holding a grudge against a man who had done my family great harm. I decided that day to lay his sins at the foot of the cross and let them go, before my unforgiveness and anger towards him destroyed me. Is there anything or anyone that you should lay at the foot of the cross and forgive?
Rev. Andy Bales
President/CEO of Union Rescue Mission