The Spirit of PrayerSample

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

FORGIVENESS

Forgive those who have sinned against you.

Forgiveness is powerful. The Lord’s prayer declares that we are to ask for forgiveness and in turn, forgive those who have sinned against us. Jesus taught boldly on the fact that because we have been forgiven that we need to forgive. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:21-35), Peter asks how many times we need to forgive, and Jesus shares the parable to make the point clear. Because you have been cleared of the debt of sin (Colossians 2:14-15) by what Jesus did on the cross, you in turn, need to forgive those who have sinned or have debts against you.

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

The cross has two axis: vertically it provided us forgiveness with God and reconciles our relationship with him, and the horizontal axis means we are to pass on that forgiveness and forgive others quickly. There's an old saying: “Holding onto unforgiveness is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die.” The poison of unforgiveness will destroy your life, not theirs, so it is much better to keep short accounts of wrongs and quickly forgive!

Pray for your enemies.

In the Lord’s prayer, we are called to forgive those who sin against us, and not just forgive, but to take it one step further and pray for our enemies. Jesus on the cross prayed for those who were crucifying him (Luke 23:34). God calls us to pray for those who are our enemies and who persecute us, pray blessing over them, pray for healing, pray for salvation. You will stop seeing them as your “enemy” when you pray for them.

Matthew 5:43-45

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Prayer: Father, I forgive those who have hurt me, spoken badly about me or harmed me. Father, as I have been forgiven by you, I release that forgiveness to those who have sinned against me. I thank you Lord that you would help me to pray for them. I pray a blessing over their lives and pray that you would take care of them.

KEY PRAYER POINT: PRAY FOR THE BUSINESS PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH THAT GOD WILL STRENGTHEN THEM WITH WISDOM AND PROVISION.