Opening Prayer

Dear Lord, Your Word says that You will give us a new heart and put a new spirit in us; that You will remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. As we let go of things that keep us weighed down, we ask that You heal us, renew us, free us and help us to forgive in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Scripture

Devotion

Forgiveness is a very complex and yet important topic. Experts tell us that there are health concerns associated with carrying around un-resolved issues which can be detrimental to our spiritual, emotional, social, and physical health. Not only that, we are to forgive because God’s Word says we should, “…be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” Ephesians 4:32

In today’s passage, Peter asked the question, ‘how often should I forgive?’ The answer, 70×7. The answer – a lot and all the time. In the words of Elsa in the movie Frozen –“let it go.” If you have ever tried to forgive someone, you know it isn’t always easy, and some things are easier to forgive than others. When I think of forgiveness I think of it as an onion, there are many layers that may need to be peeled away but with each layer there is healing. Through God’s Grace we don’t forgive alone, He will help us.

Lewis B. Smedes said, “forgiveness is the ability to wish someone well and when we forgive we are setting a prisoner free only to discover that that prisoner was you.”

What Jesus is asking us to do is something that He modelled. After His long and arduous journey to the cross, He said these profound words, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Jesus was able to let go. We are forgiven, may God give us the grace and strength to forgive others.

Intercessory Prayer

God, You are the defender of the poor and the oppressed. Help us to hear their cries and come to their aid. Teach us to see with Your Eyes, to be sensitive and to care for them. We pray they may experience Your Compassion, Concern, and Love through the people around them. We want to remember in our prayer the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Send aid through the people You choose and let us obey what You ask us to do. Lord, heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and turn their sorrow into joy. Let them see hope in You again. We pray for those who are rich, to have the heart to help those who are in need. Move their heart, oh Lord. Open their heart to see and make them understand that they are blessed to be a blessing to others. Thank You, Lord, for Your Faithfulness and Justice and Love. Your Grace always abounds towards Your Creation. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.