Offence is actively blocking your prayers!
Scripture
“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:12-14
Observation
Straight away I can see it’s impossible to live a life where we don’t offend God and man or where we’re not offended by man. It’s imperative we forgive those who offend us . It’s hypocritical to not forgive someone but expect God to forgive you. The word “as” used to bridge these two phrases in the scripture on forgiveness also has the root meaning of “like”. Almost as though it’s indicating that the ratio God forgives us is dependent on how much we forgive others . Whoa, literally gave me chills. Which at first I thought wasn’t possible but Mark 11:25 states “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” I also searched up what it means to forgive and it’s to “bid going away or depart”. So here you act as though that which the person did actually didn’t happen. Haha almost feels impossible right ? but with God all things are possible.
God expects us to pray for our deliverance also because the enemy is relentless. Just because you’re covered and there’s saving grace doesn’t mean the enemy will let you have it easy on this Christian walk . Why ? The enemy knows the average Christian doesn’t know their authority or better still understand their authorarity because after salvation we don’t make the effort to mature from baby Christians . God will say for lack of knowledge MY people perish (Hosea 4:6).
Application
Our heart is desperately wicked and deceitful the Bible would say who can really know it ? (Jeremiah 17:9) It’s important we always humble ourselves and seek the face of God to check our heart almost everyday. Resentment, offence , bitterness can all be hiding in there and you wouldn’t know . It’s also important we pray to God to help us love and see people how He does. So even when you’re offended the first instinct isn’t to hold a grudge but to ask God “what is this person battling with for them to be used as an instrument by the enemy ?” It’s with a heart posture like this that we get to give grace to people. People are broken and it’s important we don’t go low to where they are by buying into, feeding off or reciprocating their energy.
We need to be okay with living a lifestyle of consistently forgiving others so we can preserve our personal relationship with God our Father.
Prayer
Heavenly Father thank You for Your word today. Thank You for the blue print you’ve provided for me to pray to You . I bless your Holy name for You alone are worthy . I ask that You help me to see and to love people how You do.I bring forth the offence I have against (Mention their names ) and I ask You help me to forgive them so You can also forgive me. In Jesus Name I pray amen.