Life Plan Devotion #115 [Get prayers answered, 5th condition, Part II]

Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop" (Amplified).

     Of the 7 basic conditions to answered prayer, we have looked at the first four, and today, we will finish looking at the fifth condition to answered prayer:
1) Pray in the Name of Jesus.
2) Pray with praise and thanksgiving.
3) Pray without known (unconfessed) sin in your life.
4) Pray with the right motive, which is God's glory.
5) Pray from the place of right relationship.
     Mark 11:25 implies that if one chooses to continue praying, rather than forgive, his/her prayer will be ineffective.
     Notice that nothing in God's Word says to forgive only those who deserve forgiveness. Why is that? The reason is that if it had been included in God's Word, none of us would qualify for God's forgiveness. Celebrate the fact that even though each of us is unworthy of God's forgiveness, we can say with the psalmist, "You are kind and forgiving, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You" (Psalm 86:5, NIV).
     In the New Testament, there are 27 references to "forgive as we forgive." Jesus, in His teaching on prayer, taught us to pray, "Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]..." (Luke 11:4, Amplified). Outside of salvation, God forgives us in direct proportion to how much we forgive others. I don't know about you, but I have so many faults and failings that I need and want forgiveness! Therefore, no matter how hard it may be, at times, I know I must forgive others.
     Jesus taught by example, even to His dying breath. While on the cross, suffering in agony, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." (Luke 23:34, Amplified). Even when we feel that the person who hurt us terribly knew exactly what he/she was doing/saying, according to Jesus, he/she didn't really know.
     In I Peter chapter 3, a chapter which addresses right relationship in marriage, verse 7 specifically states what will happen if a husband fails to "live considerately" with his wife, "honoring" her, etc. Husbands should tend their relationship with their spouse "in order that [their] prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively]" (Amplified). The same is true for the wife, in relation to her husband.
     It is so easy to allow time to pass and wounds to fester. It is not worth it, though. As fellow believers in Christ, we are told to "Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it" (Hebrews 12:15, Amplified). Unresolved relationship issues, especially those involving unforgiveness, will cause your prayers to go unanswered, trouble increases to torment, and others are affected in ever-increasing negative ways.
     If the Holy Spirit is nudging you, make the choice to forgive (yes, it is a decision, not a feeling/emotion). Pray just as Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive [him/her/them]..." (Luke 23:34, Amplified, with author's addition of pronouns in brackets). Then "let it drop (leave it, let it go)" (Mark 11:25, Amplified).

Confession:
I want to be confident that my prayers are heard and my requests granted, so I tend to my relationship with others and I am quick to forgive, just as God has forgiven me.

Note: If you experience continued unresolved relational issues, please contact a pastor, counselor, or therapist.

Blessings,
Mary