Should I Forgive (Pt 4)

“‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].” Matthew 6:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬ The verse of the scripture above is an aspect of our Lord's Prayer which we often don't think too much about while praying. I am not sure about you, but I haven't really always given it the thought it deserves every time I have prayed those lines until fairly recently. Notice the expression in the verse: 'And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment'. In other words, we are saying: 'Father forgive us the same way that we have forgiven others'. 'Father, do unto us as we have done unto others'. 'Father, treat us as we have treated others'. 'Father, relate to us as we have related to others'. But is this really our sincerely desire in prayer? However, the question is how have we forgiven others? Immediately or after days, weeks months or years have passed by? Until they come crawling on their knees? Until they suffer for their wrong doings? If we have forgiven, how have we forgiven? Do we really want God our Heavenly Father to answer this aspect of our prayer about forgiveness, the same way we have forgiven others? Matthew 18:35 and Mark 11:25-26 are two other passages that encourage us in the area of forgiveness. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew‬ ‭18:35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Notice in Matthew 18:35 and Mark 11:25-26, 'Heavenly Father' and 'Father in Heaven' were used respectively which denotes relationship. You see, God our Heavenly Father desires that our relationship and forgiveness with others maintains and sustains our relationship and communication with him. And as children and people of God, our ernest desire should be to relate with God as our heavenly father. Is Matthew 6:12 really our sincere desire in prayer? If the answer is the affirmative, then we should forgive. The question of 'should I forgive?' will never be a struggle as we are asking our Heavenly Father to relate with us as we have related with others. As we go into this new week and begin each day, let us make room in our hearts to truly forgive those who trespass against us. And may The Lord help us in Jesus name. Amen. Have a wonderful week and God bless you. Amen.