Pray and Forgive
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26) To be sure, there will be many offenses, slights, hurts, and attacks sent our way by the enemy of our souls. They are meant to plant a seed of bitterness and mistrust in our hearts which causes us to withhold love, and we can become cold toward others without even realizing it. But God trusts us with these trials to give us the opportunity to forgive and love others, just as He has done for us. When we pass the test of forgiving and loving those who hurt us, our hearts are perfected in His love, and He is well pleased. If I am honest, I have no desire or intention to forgive those who hurt me, and even if I try, I simply do not find the strength to do so. My resentment and distrust are real and justified in my mind...