Matthew 5:44 NIV “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Mark 11: 25 NIV “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Loving our enemies? Praying for those who persecute us? Forgiving those who have hurt us? This is some tough stuff. Forgiving others is difficult work. I was once told that for a person to pray while holding a grudge is like an apple tree sprouting leaves but not bearing any apples! True faith changes the heart. Authentic prayer can tear down the chains of pride, anger, and grudges. Authentic prayer can replace all of this with love and peace. These verses call us to let go of hurts, abandon our grudges and forgive others. We can’t do this on our own power. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts. As you pray today, ask God to search your heart for any hidden or obvious unforgiveness. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to begin to transform your heart and release the chains of unforgiveness. As you pray for this revival in your heart, allow God to transform you through your prayers and your time spent resting in His presence.
