Mark 11:22-25
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
It struck me afresh this morning how Jesus made the link between letting grudges go, forgiving people from our hearts and answered prayer!
We all want to see great miracles and have our prayers answered, but can conveniently overlook this key proviso.
Grudges are strange creatures that arrive as vulnerable and innocent looking "babies" on the doorstep of our hearts.
We are tempted to pick them up and bring them inside.
To thrive, they have to be held and "nursed" - bottle fed by rehearsing the injury or grievance over and over.
Like babies they demand to be fed, waking us at night with their urgent cries for time and attention, robbing us of peace & sleep.
Some grievances are very demanding as they grow from babies crying for attention "milk", developing into dominant adults and feel they have every right to set up home in our spirits and memories. They barge their way into every conversation and poison our thoughts.
They are hungry creatures and will grab the Bread of Life from our lips. They speak loudly and aggressively - stating that their demands transcend the Words of Jesus to forgive.
We have to shut their mouths and starve them of time and "food".
Serve them with immediate eviction notices, because they are greedy, trespassing squatters and will make our hearts filthy with unforgiveness.
In turn that will muffle the sound of our prayers in God's ears.
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished sin [and unforgiveness is indeed sin] in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
Prayer
Father God, I serve notice on all the grievances, grudges and bitterness that have squatted in my heart. Holy Spirit be my Bailiff evicting the those that have set up home deep in my soul and set me free of their domination in Jesus name!
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