Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
There are some believers who are wondering why their prayers and their faith aren’t producing the desired results; the simple answer is unforgiveness. Families have been separated, couples who grew in love with each other and got married, gave birth to children – the offspring of their love have grown apart as strangers because of unforgiveness. It is Satan’s favorite weapon against the believer in Christ Jesus.
Our theme verse shows that any prayer that was made when unforgiveness was present in the heart is not answered by the Lord. Unforgiveness weakens faith because it restricts the hand of God from moving in your direction. Jesus was very clear in his instruction to his disciples. Mark 11 is the chapter where Jesus taught his disciples about faith. This brings to mind the parable of the unmerciful servant Jesus shared in Matthew 18. Jesus painted a picture to explain what the kingdom of heaven looks like.
A king who had servants was owed ten thousand bags of gold by one servant. The servant couldn’t pay and his master forgave him. The first action of this servant whose debt was forgiven was to choke another servant who was owing him one hundred silver coins and demanded that the debt be paid. When the king heard what had happened, he issued for his arrest. Unfortunately, this is what most of us are doing today. We expect in others what we excuse in ourselves. We hold others to a higher standard that we are willing to hold ourselves.
Unforgiveness contaminates your heart and everything in it. You will be surprised to note that if you’re living in unforgiveness both your prayer and offerings are not acceptable before God. It is time to let go of whatever hurt and forgive. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself than it is to the forgiven. You are God’s best and you deserve to be free from the weight of unforgiveness. It is time to make your faith work by letting go and consciously forgiving anyone – no matter what they have done to you. Set yourself free and see your faith blossom.
PRAYER
Oh God my Father, I let go and forgive anyone who has wronged me in any way; I set myself free from the weight of unforgiveness in Jesus’ precious name.
