29 September 2008
Lord, teach us to pray (Part II)
Posted by admin1 under: Spiritual Growth .
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not how to pray as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
James 4:3 says we do not receive when we ask because we ask amiss. We do not ask with a pure heart. This means asking with the right motives as addressed in Part I. And it also means, asking without holding grudges with anyone. To fulfill this requirement, Jesus commands us “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (St. Mark 11:25-26).
Forgiveness is a requirement we need to meet before our prayers can be heard. The bible says we will be forgiven provided that we also forgive others. Lack of forgiveness is an infirmity which can pose as a challenge in our Spiritual Growth. Infirmities are weaknesses and a condition of walking in the flesh and not in the spirit. If left unchecked , lack of forgiveness will hinder our prayers from being heard and our requests from being answered hence, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalms 66:18).
Forgiving others is an act of obedience to our Father in heaven first, and an act of love to our fellow men (St. Matthew 22:37). If we desire God to forgive our sins, we need first to forgive others. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (St. Matthew 7:12).
When we hold grudges, we often do not wish our enemies well. So our requests and prayers are often contrary to the will of God. Jesus instructed us to pray for our enemies and for those who spitefully use us (St. Matthew 5:43-44). Forgiving others is a key for our prayers to being answered and our requests being heard. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (St. Matthew 6:14-15).
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