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There is nothing I like more, than to pray for myself! Those of you who know me, might think, that is the best use of your time, you need it. In my prayers I spend some hard time self evaluating my last 24 hrs or so. I bring to mind, those things I have done, said and thought that were wrong, sin as the bible calls it. 1 John chapter 1 verse 8 (sadly) reminds me that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I might think, “well over the past 24 hrs I did nothing wrong!” I then consider things that I haven’t said, thought and done that I should have done. Yeah, I can’t claim to be without sin.
Is my inactivity just as bad as my activity? I would like to argue that it is. Jesus, in teaching his disciples about prayer (Matthew chapter 6 verses 9 – 13) tells them, that you are to ask for forgiveness AND to forgive those who have sinned against you. Not easy. But this is part of my inactivity, and can stop me from moving on. This, in time will lead me to bearing a grudge and eventually lead to having malicious thoughts and hatred will consume me. I need to forgive and I need to be forgiven. So how can I do this?
My prayers continue, I ask God, “help me to forgive other people as you forgive me.” It’s an ouch moment. Thankfully there is a verse 9 in 1 John chapter 1 that tells us, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’ The psalmists tells us (chapter 32) our sins are not counted against us and (chapter 103) that God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. Phew! But what a challenge! Can I forgive someone just as God forgives me?
I pray for myself a lot, because I need the help; to be the person God know that I can be.
jonathankear 