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Today’s reading is Matthew 6:14-15 and Psalm 77.

What does Jesus mean when he says that if we do not forgive others we will not be forgiven? I don’t think he is holding forgiveness back from us – I think he is trying to get us to understand that the grace that makes forgiveness available to us has to be accepted. How can we accept forgiveness for our own sins (against God and others) if we don’t believe we’ve done something wrong? And, if we know we’ve sinned, and have asked for and accepted the grace of forgiveness, how can we hold it back from others – but still expect our own slate to be wiped clean?

Forgiveness is guaranteed as a response to repentance (1 John 1:9-10). I think with true repentance comes a recognition of our own unworthiness – but thankfully Jesus only asks for repentance, not for perfection. If we cannot forgive others who are not unlike ourselves, then we must not truly be recognizing the condition of sin in our own hearts. When we do recognize our sin, and go to God in humility asking for forgiveness, we receive His mercy. Part of being a Christ-follower is striving to be Christlike in thought, word and actions – even to forgiving those “unworthy” of forgiveness. If we withhold that forgiveness, we are also keeping ourselves from experience the full comfort of God’s grace and mercy. We become trapped in a prison of our own making.

Is there anyone you’ve been unable to forgive? Spend some time in prayer and confession. Ask God for forgiveness, thank Him for his grace and mercy, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the desire to forgive.

Today’s reading:  Matthew 6:10, Psalm 73

As you wish – a formal expression of agreement to something, especially with the connotation that one does not really agree (Wiktionary).

Do you remember the movie The Princess Bride (1987)?  If you do, I suspect you thought of it when you read the title of my post today.  This fairy tale adventure is about a beautiful young woman (Buttercup) and a farm boy (Westley).  Throughout the story, Westley responds to Buttercup’s every command with the words “as you wish”.  Over and over again, his completely submissive approach led him to endure many ridiculous challenges until he was finally able to save Buttercup, his one true love, from an evil kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbX1U1tx9aw

This is really a pretty dumb movie, but I love it nonetheless.  (I know some of you do too!)  Does today’s passage in Matthew 6:10 feel a little bit like the phrase “as you wish”?  Like we are resigning ourselves to fate, or perhaps just formally agreeing to something that isn’t really what we want?  This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

In this verse, Jesus suggested that we pray for God’s perfect purpose to be accomplished.  As our creator, God knows what is best for us and has a plan for our lives.  He designed everything to work together for good and to bring glory to him.  Is there ever a situation where you wouldn’t agree with that?  God’s plans do not promise happiness, but they do promise hope and purpose.  When left to my own devices, I could never come up with a plan that is better than the omniscient, perfect creator of the universe.  I pray his will be done.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Today’s  reading is from Matthew 6:9 and Psalm 72

I remember saying the Lord’s prayer in church as a child. We stood in the big sanctuary with stained glass windows and recited the prayer together. Everyone joined in the low monotone mumbling of the verses as we became one voice. I memorized it at a young age from being in church and listening. It didn’t mean anything to me at the time. I was proud for knowing the words until I realized there were different versions with different words and then the confusion set in.  I was suddenly not able to join in the beautiful monotone for fear I might mess up the cadence with a 3 syllable word instead of a 2 syllable one. The opportunity to recite this prayer has been less often but when it does arise I try to assess the crowd for what version I should use. I’ll admit I’m never right and end up mumbling through most of it. I asked my 13 year old son if he knows the Lord’s Prayer and he admitted he couldn’t recite it but he knew it was when Jesus taught people how to pray. He probably has a better understanding then I did at his age as I was just memorizing words. These past few days I spent time with the first 9 words of this prayer. It’s just the introduction to the prayer but it sets the tone and prepares our hearts for time with God.

Our Father……..addressing to whom our prayer is directed. The word ” Father ” expresses an intimate relationship that is not reserved for holidays and Sunday’s. We are His children and He knows us and loves us as a Father does. He is ours and we are His.

In heaven…….. He is not of this world. His ways are not our ways. His plans are perfect. I am in awe of His position and that I am able to pray and be heard by the creator of the universe through Jesus Christ.

May your name be honored……He is worthy of honor and praise. In all that I do, say, and think. How am I honoring God today?

I’m convicted to be more thoughtful about WHO I’m praying to and to spend more time honoring His name. I often skip the reverence part and get right to the asking or complaining. In doing this I’m forgetting how big and awesome He is. I have found a peace when I sit in reverence of who God is and it changes my heart.  There is a time for asking but it comes after acknowledging Him as our Father in heaven.  As we spend the next few days going through the Lord’s Prayer, spend time with each phrase. He reveals Himself through His word when we listen. Go slow and let the words rest on your heart throughout the day.

 

 

Todays Reading: Matthew 6:7 ; Psalm 70  

Matthew 6: 7

 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

How many words are enough? How loud or soft, should I pray? Will He hear me?  God has not heard me, should I pray more or increase in my frequency or intensity?   I have struggled with and grown in my prayer life over these last 36 years.  I still find myself wrestling with these thoughts and others as I pray.  Through this journey, I have learned  it is not about the perfect words or phrases, but it is about the relationship.

 

Prayer can be broken down into three areas: presence, relationship, and alignment.  Over the years, I have prayed to have a better relationship and prayer life and these are the areas that have helped me to grow.

 

Presence.  We have to allow our mind, body, and spirit to become reserved and in reverence of the awesomeness of God.  We have to place ourselves actually in the presence of God.  We have to literally see Him for all that He is.  In Revelation, John states that when he saw Christ, he fell down and worshipped.

 

Revelation 1: 17-18

“¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

 

May we fall down and humble ourselves each time we make a petition to God.  I don’t literally fall completely down in the streets every time I pray, but I submit my heart and soul to Him.

 

Relationship.  The relationship that we have with God is our own personal connection with him.  I have heard many pastors and clergy speak about the relationship with God should be “this” or “that”, but the relationship is up to the individual and is always a working progress.  The relationship dictates the interaction that you have with God. I have many relationships with friends and family and there are times that you can talk for hours and other times you can be silent for long periods of time.  The relationship with God can be similar, there can be times that you are in awe of all that He has given you and cannot stop thanking him with your words.  In other times, there can be times where you are so overwhelmed by His presence that you are at a lost for words.  The great thing about God is He loves the time you.  No matter if you have many words or no words.

 

Alignment.  The proper placement of our lives, attitudes, and emotions allows us to hear and interact with God better.  For example, I have a wonderful seven-year-old on who is always running around and finding things to make, play or do.  If I am inside the house and he is outside the house, when I call him, he might be able to respond. But if I am in the same area, either the house or outside and I call him, he will respond quickly.  This is the same with our Heavenly Father, if we are in the same mindset or atmosphere; we are better aligned to respond to His calling and His voice.  If we are not aligned then the slight whispers of protection and prosperity might be obscured, but He is a loving Father and will continually pursue us.

 

While being in the presence of God, and creating a relationship with God, and aligning ourselves with God we will be able to connect with him throughout the day and in the midst of daily living.  As Matthew states, we do not have give many words to God as prayers, but be earnest and sincere and connect with the Father and He already knows your desires and petitions of your heart.

 

Dear God,

Allow us to speak and hear your will. Amen

Matthew 6:5-6 highlights the importance of where we pray and why. The purpose of prayer is to communicate with God. Our concern should be what God thinks of us and not what others may think. Jesus tells us in verse 6 to pray in secret so that there would be no temptation to impress other people and so that we can receive the Father’s full reward.

Jesus gives us these directions because he saw people praying for the wrong reasons. The hypocritical Jewish leaders pretended to be something they were not. That is what a hypocrite is – someone who acts out a part that is not true in reality. They gave the appearance that they were close to God, but in reality they did not really care what God thought of them. What was important to them was what the people thought. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted the people to think they were pious and close to God, so they made it their practice to pray in such a way as to be seen by men. They made a show out of their prayers. Their prayers did not reach God because they were not meant for God.

Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father who knows all secrets, will reward you.”
Do you have secret place that you can go to be alone with God? Mine is not too secret. It is just the corner of my couch with my Bible, my journal, and usually a cup of coffee. Secret prayer is actually not about the place where we pray. It is about praying, no matter where we are. Look at Jesus’ life of ministry. He did not have a home that he retreated to every night so that He could wake up every morning and have His prayer time on His couch. Matthew 14:23 shows us that Jesus would often withdraw from the crowds and his disciples and pray by himself; “After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone”. He was always traveling and finding His secret place of prayer, up on the mountainside (as this Sermon on the Mount began), the Garden of Gethsemane, the wilderness, or a deserted place. It seems the Bible points out that Jesus had most of His alone time with God outside!!! When we are outside, we leave behind many distractions (family members, internet, phones, food, the massive list of to-dos) and we are surrounded by God’s glorious creation. Especially now that the snow is gone and the birds are singing! Jesus lived the habit of secret prayer outside.

When we withdraw from the public to our private place of prayer we can be sure that God is there with us. He comes near to us when we come near to Him (James 4:8). There are benefits to be had for coming to the private place and communing with God. Hebrews 11:6 says that God “rewards those who sincerely try to find him.” When we turn to God instead of turning to anything or anyone else, He is pleased with us and rewards us.

What a blessing to set aside a time of prayer in a secluded place. A place where you can pray without being interrupted. A place where you can pour out even the secret things of your heart. Do you have a place designated that you regularly visit to pray?

We are all SO ready for spring and warm weather. Get outside this weekend and have some secret prayer in God’s creation. Go for a walk, notice the beauty around you and listen to how God speaks to you through His creation.

Psalm 69:16
“Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.”

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[a] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

I can’t help but think of my little boys when I read this passage. Samuel and Andrew are ages 4 and 3, respectively. When they’re playing together it is inevitable that one of them is wronged. Samuel snatches the toy that Andrew was playing with. Andrew’s first response is to strike out and hit Samuel. Samuel then hits Andrew back. You get the picture – this kind of scene is played out for parents and people who are around young children all the time. All of that is usually…well, always…followed by crying and stories of injustice, usually accompanied by pleas for punishment to the other.

Jesus is teaching us here to resist our most natural urge of striking back. Don’t be confused by the language in verse 39 though – “Do not resist the one who is evil.” Ephesians 4:27, 6:11-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7, all talk about resisting the devil with the “whole armor of God.” When Jesus says, “Do not resist the one who is evil,” He is talking about revenge.  He isn’t telling us to be weak and passive; He’s telling us not to be vindictive. Jesus wants us to ask the question, “If someone does something evil to me, how may I respond with only good in return?”

This is a really difficult concept to apply in every day life. My mind automatically jumps to the “big” wrongs – but what about the rest? What if, instead of getting frustrated when someone cuts in front of me in line, I offer to help them unload their groceries onto the belt for them? It sounds nice in theory – but in the heat of the moment it’s not easy to humble myself to offer help to someone that acted rudely or inconsiderately to me.

Jesus wants us to be selfless. He goes on to tell us that if someone sues us for our shirt, don’t only give that away, but our cloak as well. If someone begs, give to them. If someone asks to borrow – give to them as well. The theme here is to “disconnect” from material goods and possessions. I don’t think Jesus wants us to be penniless, but I do think that He recognizes that the things we acquire and that have importance to us can separate us from Him.

The Apostle Paul summarizes what Jesus’ teaches us here in Romans 12:17-21,

“never pay back evil for evil to anyone. respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

In Psalm 65 David writes, “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions…We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.” The awesome gift of forgiveness – granted while we were still sinners – needs to be contemplated daily. We need to remember that all we are, all we have, comes from God. Our financial wealth, our knowledge and abilities – they are gifts given to us to use for His glory.

Try this week to return a negative action with a loving response. Look for an opportunity to use what God has given you to help someone in need. Show compassion and grace when you feel a response of anger or frustration.

Lord, please fill my heart with the desire to serve you. Thank you for your constant forgiveness. Help me to reflect your light to those around me and give me the courage to return evil with good. Give me a generous spirit and cause me to look for ways to show generosity.