Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Nothing interferes with our relationship to God like sin and
bitterness. Therefore, repentance and forgiveness are a regular,
daily part of our prayer life. We need to clear the lines of
communication each day so that unrepented sin and unforgiveness of
others do not hinder the answers we need.

It is important to forgive and repent at the same time in prayer,
because repentance and forgiveness are intertwined. Scripture
teaches us that unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven. Unless
we show mercy, we will not receive mercy. Since none of us can do
without mercy, we must release any grudge against others that is in
our heart before our repentance will be received.

Connecting repentance and forgiveness makes both easier for us. How
much easier it is to let go of bitterness towards others who do not
perhaps deserve it, if I realize that by doing so, I gain mercy for
myself.! How much easier it is to repent with the understanding that
I am not alone in needing mercy. So each time I pray, I repent and
forgive; releasing the mercy of God into my heart and into my life.

Whether we repent and forgive first thing every day when we pray, or
whether we repent and forgive as soon as we realize the need, we must
be diligent to do both daily. The longer we wait to repent or
forgive, the harder it becomes as our heart becomes harder. After a
period of time, a root of bitterness springs up, blocking the Spirit
of God and hindering our relationship with Him. If we find our
prayers becoming ineffective, we need to check for unrepented sin
and unforgiveness in our hearts.

As we sit in God's presence, we ask him to show us sin and bitterness
in our heart which may not even be known to us. The Holy Spirit
searches us and reveals what we need to repent and forgive. When we
speak the words, grace is loosed and the lines of communication are
reopened.

Of course, there is more to repentance and forgiveness than merely
reciting words. Just expressing the willingness does not
immediately produce the results. Yet merely speaking the words
releases grace to help us achieve true repentant and forgiving
actions. It is not possible to pray for someone regularly and still
harbor resentment. In the same way, regularly expressing sorrow over
sin and meaning it prepares the soil of our character to be changed
with the Fruit of the Spirit.

If unforgiveness toward others costs us forgiveness for own our sins,
the opposite is also true. When we show mercy, we receive mercy.
Praying for those who seem to least deserve it causes God to view our
inadequacies through the lens of grace.

Repentance and forgiveness are like a daily spiritual bath. Through
them, we cleanse our heart and maintain our souls as a vessel of the
Holy Spirit. Through them we claim intimacy with the Father. Rather
than viewing repentance and forgiveness as unpleasant obligations,
we should see them as the means to spiritual renewal and new life.
I don't want to miss my daily spiritual bath!


EXERCISES


1. Ask God to reveal those things in your life which are a
barrier between you and Him. Write these things in your journal and
repent of them daily until you are delivered.


2. Ask God to reveal any person against whom you hold bitterness
or unforgiveness in your heart. State your willingness to forgive
and pray for these people regularly.

3. Be sure to revisit your journal pages and leave space to
record your victories in repentance and forgiveness.