February 2021
Suddenly, it got very quiet. We were talking about spiritual roadblocks in a class on prayer, and I described a spirit of unforgiveness. Many times, people think an issue is done. It happened so long ago, or we just want to get past it, so we put up a tombstone and walk away. But it is not over. We buried it alive, and well below the surface, a root of bitterness is growing. This bitterness poisons our prayer life.
As I was speaking, I could sense the Spirit of conviction falling across the room. A nerve had been hit. Many people struggle with a spirit of unforgiveness toward someone who has wronged them. Somewhere along the way, he did something, she said something, some expectation was left unfulfilled, and we have never forgiven that person for it.
Deep inside, we hold a clenched fist against the person, just aching for the chance to settle the score. Maybe it was an affair, maybe it was neglect, or maybe it was some other form of abuse or broken trust. Regardless, along the way, fresh anger hardened into steely chunks of resentment that are now killing any hope of closeness in our relationship with that person or with God. Scripture puts it starkly.
...do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 (NIV)
An unforgiving spirit gives a foothold for the Evil One to destroy our relationships. By any measure, our culture is buckling under the weight of unforgiveness these days. That is why it is so important, whether the offense occurred 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago, to release our offender from the wound we received.
Christian counselor and author, Gary Smalley, describes it this way, “The original definition of forgiveness actually means that you untie or release someone. As long as you have an unforgiving spirit, you are tied to that person with emotional knots.” Love cannot flow across those gnarled straps. We have to go to the person who has offended us and say, “Here’s how I felt when that happened, even though you may not have intended it that way. I do not want to hold this against you. I forgive you, and I release us both from that conflict in our past.”
The act of forgiveness is like opening a floodgate in our hearts. We are not just untying our offender. We are untying ourselves, so we can love again – and pray again. No person can afford to let bitterness linger. It is far too destructive. Scripture calls us to a higher road:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Prayer flows most smoothly where forgiveness is given most freely.
Praying I will forgive as I have been forgiven,
Roger Ross
P.S. For encouragement, you can receive a weekly Prayer Text by texting KINGDOM to 573-227-6557.
Congregational Excellence Prayer Team
February 2021
As our country and world continue to battle COVID-19, we are painfully aware of the racial and ethnic injustices that plague our national character. We have much to bring before God.
Feel free to pray for a different area each day. Thanks for praying!
- SUNDAY: HOPE- Pray for 2021 to bring a spirit of forgiveness to heal divisions and restore hope spiritually, relationally, and socially across our nation and world. Lord, multiply your Kingdom through us.
- MONDAY: PEACE- Pray for God’s perfect love to cast out every spirit of division, suspicion, anxiety, and panic that threaten our communities and sense of community.
- TUESDAY: AWAKENING- Sow in prayer the seeds for a Great Awakening in our churches, communities, and nation. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal new insights and ways of being that transform each church and community in Missouri.
- WEDNESDAY: JUSTICE- Pray for justice to roll down like waters and right living like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24), so we may repent of racism and overcome the evil powers of this world with good.
- THURSDAY: NEW PLACES- Praise God for the 16 laypersons and pastors who have registered for the 2021 Planting Academy. Pray for at least two more to register and for a Holy Spirit-infused retreat on Feb. 19-20 (by Zoom).
- SATURDAY: PROTECTION- Praise God for researchers who have developed effective, affordable, and safe COVID-19 vaccines! Pray that hundreds of millions of people can be vaccinated quickly and safely.
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