Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive me, then
your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
(Matthew 6: 14,15)


Reflections:

Forgiveness, this is not an easy thing for us to do. One of the
most meaningful passages in the Holy Scriptures is after being
whipped, brutally beaten, stabbed, nails driven through his hands,
taunted, belittled, spat upon, and placed on a a cross to die.
Jesus Christ asks His Father in heaven to forgive them. WOW!
thats powerful. I mean thats forgiveness. Instead of wanting revenge
He forgives them. There have been times in my life when I have had
to ask God for strength to forgive, I mean real forgiveness. I walked
around for a long time with revenge in my heart it dominated my life.
When my best friend was killed in Vietnam, I not only felt sadness,
I felt real, powerful anger and yes hate. We had grown up together,
we did everything together, he was like my brother. I was so angry,
upon his death, I just wanted revenge. It dominated my life. I was
angry at the government, I was angry at the president, I was angry
at the military, I was angry at everyone. Then one evening my pastor
came and talked to me about forgiveness, you see he was aware of
my anger also. Together we prayed and asked God to give me strength,
and to experience forgiveness in my heart. And you know something
it worked. Even though those who I was angry at never sought forgiveness,
I forgave them anyway, and my whole life changed. Finally one very
important thing I have discovered about forgiveness, when I forgive I feel
forgiveness.

Prayer:

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine
is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD