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.
Mark 11:25
Our position in prayer – not our physical position, but our grievance position – what we’re holding against others – matters in prayer!
Someone shared with me about a woman who married a member of a different church. The church merged with another church, and years later there were unresolved tensions between the two groups. The pastor of the church before communion would talk about the need to have no unconfessed sin, resolve your grievances with your neighbor, etc, before communion. This woman asked her husband, “How does anyone in this church take communion?”
Sadly, many people harbor bitterness in their lives. Yes others can wrong you. But sometimes those others believe you wronged them as well. The answer is to declare that this year will be a “year of jubilee”
In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
Leviticus 25:13
The context of this verse talks about forgiving loans. But we need to be forgiving grudges as well. Make this year, a year of jubilee in your life!
(And enjoy this favorite of mine from Outreach Quartet – about the coming Jubilee!)
