Saturday , February 12, 2011

The Word for today is found in Matthew 6:11-12

11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (KJV)

11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (NIV)

We are taking the Lord’s Prayer and studying it to see how God wants us to pray.

Verse 11 tells us that God wants us to ask him each day for our food and the daily needs that we have. Yes, he said he would meet all our needs according to Christ’s “riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19) , but he wants us each day to acknowledge that he is the giver. If we do not, then we begin to forget who gives us these things and think that they have come by our own hand. We need to have a total reliance on God every day.

V12 tells us that if we are unwilling to forgive others who have wronged us, or hurt us, then God will not forgive us our sins.

Jesus addresses this in Mark 11:26 where he says that if you are not willing to forgive others then your prayers will be to no avail.

Forgiveness is not an option but a command, and often causes Christians not to get their prayers answered. You need to allow the Holy Spirit to shine his light in your spirit and show you if there is any unforgiveness.

We will continue with the Lord’s Prayer tomorrow. Be blessed. Pastor Louise