Matthew 6:15, ASV.
“But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
I’ve thought long on this verse but don’t know that I’ve ever managed to say what my heart sees clearly; that is, how much a life of prayer, automatically, opens one up to heaven’s, and satan’s, scrutiny and judgement.
Jesus, in teaching his disciples to pray, told them that by involving God in their lives they’d assumed an obligation to become like him in giving as he gave. It’s the price of participation.
If I don’t forgive, I either get led, or perhaps wander -I’ve certainly done that, into my own wilderness of temptation. The difference is this though, whereas Jesus had nothing in him for the evil one to find and thus bring pain and failure into his life, I almost always do.
Un-forgiveness is the great deal breaker, as my forgiveness of others is the foundation for my entire participation in God’s kingdom. Without practicing open forgiveness, I cannot reflect his identity properly to the world around me. I misrepresent him. To other’s eyes, I make my God over in my fashion. This, on this point, God never aides.
In this shared journey, wherein we need to be provided for in order to do his will here on earth, so that his kingdom comes in ever greater glory, hallowing his name for the world to see; do not fail to remember your weapon of prayer is a two edged sword.
As you hack away into the future, you also in the battle expose your own soul to thrust and parry. Let there be no personal baggage; no rejections or relational damage, exposing your soul to your enemy’s judgment. Let there be not disqualifying un-forgiveness in you.
As it turns out, prayer, especially prayer for others, is a necessary but also a dangerous thing. It’s serious enough that it attract devils and trying circumstances into your life. I suppose….that’s why it’s referred to as warfare.
I still don’t know that I said that clearly :||