Mark 11:25

NASB – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your offenses. 

NLT – But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven 

VOICE – When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you.

Ready to Pray

In the Jewish tradition, standing was a common way to pray. It was a way to be ready and be respectful before God. Standing shows alertness and reverence, showing that prayer is about actively engaging with God. Jesus is teaching us that forgiveness and worship are connected.. To hold grudges impacts our relationship with God and others. We need to offer forgiveness as both a personal release and a reflection of God’s grace. We’re offering the same forgiveness that God has given us through Christ’s sacrifice. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What would it feel to you to stand during prayer vs. sitting during prayer? Would it change how prayer feels to you? 

Words Meet Action

How have you experienced God’s forgiveness in the past? God’s forgiveness releases us from our bondage to our sinful behaviors, mindsets, and desires and allows us to have a right relationship with our heavenly Father. This happens through Christ’s atoning sacrifice. We can hold grudges over a lot of different things. Things that may seem innocuous after everything is all said and done, but they may have felt very upsetting in the moment. It could also be things that are severe that require a proper separation of relationships and the inability of proper reconciliation. There have been ways we’ve talked about this before in past devotionals. If you can reconcile a relationship, offer release from resentment while still naming harm truthfully that was caused, and create a safe and secure path forward, then please do so. It could be on your own through effective communication and listening, plus through proper steps of providing reconciliatory steps to amend the hurts. Words can be a great first step, but a more tangible and reasonable sign of forgiveness and reconciliation is actions. Does your behavior match your words? If you ruin someone’s shirt, buy them a new one – don’t just apologize for ruining it. If you take someone’s appetite away, buy them dinner or groceries. Behaviors will make a difference, and prayer can lead us on the path that we need to take. God’s strength and guidance will lead on a path toward healing, accountability, and reconciliation when safe and possible, and to bring unity and harmony among God’s creation.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does forgiveness look like to you? How would you provide forgiveness to others? 

Next slice of manna: How Forgiveness Transforms Lives in Today’s Culture || Manna for the Mind #371