Forgiveness. It is a difficult concept to wrap your brain around. So I tried to approach it from a different angle. Forgiveness while being an action is also a grace. A grace that we can offer others because we are commanded too and we have all been granted that grace through Him.
“I want mercy for myself (God please forgive me), but I want justice for others (they must be punished for what they did).” Or perhaps we will say (or think), “I can’t forgive that person until he says he’s sorry.” This is not the Gospel. Jesus’ disposition was to forgive all those who betrayed him, rejected him, and beat him. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” In fact, un-forgiveness is contrary to the message of the Gospel. “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who is not merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
The catch, if you will, with forgiveness is that we are only forgiven to the extent for which we forgive others. That is a tall order for most humans these days. I see angry people all around me. Angry about things that honestly seem trivial to me, and no I am not trying to trivialize someones trials However, I do think that as a whole our perspective or our pecking order of importance is largely skewed. And it is super difficult to take time out of your day and pray for those that "wrong us". And why? Because Jesus said so! Unconditional love is forgiveness and the only way to receive grace from Him.
So while you are awaiting your prayers to be answered, start each day with forgiveness and grant it in your heart to others so that you will in turn receive His blessings. If we are unwilling to let go of our anger toward another or ourselves, it becomes our block to God's love; thus we do not witness prayers answered.
“I want mercy for myself (God please forgive me), but I want justice for others (they must be punished for what they did).” Or perhaps we will say (or think), “I can’t forgive that person until he says he’s sorry.” This is not the Gospel. Jesus’ disposition was to forgive all those who betrayed him, rejected him, and beat him. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” In fact, un-forgiveness is contrary to the message of the Gospel. “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who is not merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
The catch, if you will, with forgiveness is that we are only forgiven to the extent for which we forgive others. That is a tall order for most humans these days. I see angry people all around me. Angry about things that honestly seem trivial to me, and no I am not trying to trivialize someones trials However, I do think that as a whole our perspective or our pecking order of importance is largely skewed. And it is super difficult to take time out of your day and pray for those that "wrong us". And why? Because Jesus said so! Unconditional love is forgiveness and the only way to receive grace from Him.
So while you are awaiting your prayers to be answered, start each day with forgiveness and grant it in your heart to others so that you will in turn receive His blessings. If we are unwilling to let go of our anger toward another or ourselves, it becomes our block to God's love; thus we do not witness prayers answered.