“And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:4‬

I’ve been pondering forgiveness and what it truly means. Here, in the model prayer for believers, Jesus tells us what forgiveness looks like in real life.

1. We are to forgive everyone. That means those who didn’t ask for our forgiveness or feel like they need it. Those who don’t deserve it. Those who can never undo what has been done.

2. We are to forgive those who are currently indebted to us. God doesn’t say, “You need to forgive them because what they did wasn’t that bad anyway.” No, there are people who have wronged us and are currently indebted to us. They have sinned against us. Forgiving them means we no longer hold that debt against them. We no longer ask them to keep paying the same debt over and over.

Lord, help me to forgive like you forgive. Help me to no longer demand payment from people for past sins. May I not seek their shame. And may I not hold against them the things for which you have forgiven them.

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