“And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors”. (Matt 6:12, CSB)

As we pray for the Lord to forgive our sins, we have to forgive those who have sinned against us. These things go hand in hand.

And if we want to experience peace and freedom, if we want to pray in confidence, we cannot hold onto unforgiveness of others.

Not any others.

We have to let it go. We have to stop marinating in our minds the wrongs others have done to us. We have to stop talking about it.

We need to forgive as God forgives us—which means it’s removed as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)

And every time the enemy reminds us of it, we need to pray.

And one thing that has helped me so much is advice that was given to my husband years ago by a dear pastor. He said, “Pray FOR the other person.“

And it’s hard at first. Especially when the hurt is deep. But let me tell you, real freedom comes when you do so.

My husband was previously married, and literally walked in on his first wife in bed with another man.

He was shocked and deeply hurt. But as he prayed FOR her and even the man with whom she was unfaithful, he noticed God brought true freedom.

He says it was horrifically hard at first. He said he’d get mad and have to try again. But over the days and months, he prayed. one day as he was praying, he says the bitterness just left. The anger disappeared, and light-hearted peace came.

And let me tell you, as his wife now, I have been incredibly blessed because my husband has never been distrustful, suspicious, or controlling of me (as with that kind of history one might expect him to be.)

The thing is, we can always trust God to help us when we obey Him. What He says in His Word about praying and forgiveness is for our good, for our freedom, and for our peace!

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