Day 26: Living Free of Unforgiveness

One thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind

and reach forward to those things which are ahead,

I press toward the goal for the prize

of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 3:13-14

.
Lord, I pray that You would enable David and Elizabeth to live in ongoing forgiveness. Teach them the depth of Your forgiveness toward them so that they can be freely forgiving toward others. Help them to make the decision to forgive based on what You've asked us to do and not on what feels good at the moment. May they understand that forgiveness doesn't justify the other person's actions; instead, it makes themselves free. Help them to understand that only You know the whole story about any of us, and that's why they don't have the right to judge.
.
Lord, Your Word says, "He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (I John 2:10-11). Show me places where I walk in the darkness of unforgiveness. I don't want that in my life. I want to see clearly and know where I'm going. And I pray that for my children as well. May they always walk in the light of love and forgiveness. Enable them to forgive family members, friends, and all others as well. Teach them to release the past to You so that they can move into all that You have for them. Don't allow them to harbor resentment, bitterness, and anger, but rather help them to turn these feelings over to You immediately whenever they creep in.
.
I pray that they will forgive themselves for times of failure, and may they never blame You, Lord, for things that happen on this earth and in their lives. According to Your Word I pray that they will love their enemies, bless those who curse them, do good to those who hate them, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute them, so that they may enjoy all Your blessings (Matthew 5:44-45). In Jesus' name, I pray that they will live in the fullness of Your forgiveness for them and walk in the freedom of forgiveness in their own hearts.* Amen.
.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor,

and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:31-32

.

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,

and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression.

- Proverbs 19:11

.
*Make this prayer your own! From the book, The Power of a Praying Parent. Ordering information is at the bottom of this page.