Life Plan Devotion #115 [Get prayers answered, 5th condition, Part II]

Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop" (Amplified).

Of the 7 basic conditions to answered prayer, we have looked at the first four, and today, we will finish looking at the fifth condition to answered prayer:
1) Pray in the Name of Jesus.
2) Pray with praise and thanksgiving.
3) Pray without known (unconfessed) sin in your life.
4) Pray with the right motive, which is God's glory.
5) Pray from the place of right relationship.
In Devotion #114, we looked at Mark 11:25, which implies that if one chooses to continue praying, rather than forgive, his/her prayer will be ineffective.
Notice that nothing in God's Word says to forgive only those who deserve forgiveness. Why is that? The reason is that if it had been included in God's Word, none of us would qualify for God's forgiveness. Celebrate the fact that even though each of us is unworthy of God's forgiveness, we can say with the psalmist, "You are kind and forgiving, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You" (Psalm 86:5, NIV).
In the New Testament, there are 27 references to "forgive as we forgive." Jesus, in His teaching on prayer, taught us to pray, "Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]..." (Luke 11:4, Amplified). Outside of salvation, God forgives us in direct proportion to how much we forgive others. I don't know about you, but I have so many faults and failings that I need and want forgiveness! Therefore, no matter how hard it may be, at times, I know I must forgive others.
Jesus taught by example, even to His dying breath. While on the cross, suffering in agony, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." (Luke 23:34, Amplified). Even when we feel that the person who hurt us terribly knew exactly what he/she was doing/saying, according to Jesus, he/she didn't really know.
In I Peter chapter 3, a chapter which addresses right relationship in marriage, verse 7 specifically states what will happen if a husband fails to "live considerately" with his wife, "honoring" her, etc. Husbands should tend their relationship with their spouse "in order that [their] prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively]" (Amplified). The same is true for the wife, in relation to her husband.
It is so easy to allow time to pass and wounds to fester. It is not worth it, though. As fellow believers in Christ, we are told to "Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it" (Hebrews 12:15, Amplified). Unresolved relationship issues, especially those involving unforgiveness, will cause your prayers to go unanswered, trouble increases to torment, and others are affected in ever-increasing negative ways.
If the Holy Spirit is nudging you, make the choice to forgive (yes, it is a decision, not a feeling/emotion). Pray just as Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive [him/her/them]..." (Luke 23:34, Amplified, with author's addition of pronouns in brackets). Then "let it drop (leave it, let it go)" (Mark 11:25, Amplified).

What this has to do with weight loss: We know that stress raises our cortisol level, which can increase belly fat. If you are carrying unforgiveness in your heart, it adds to your stress. One of the best things you can do, to add to your spiritual, physical and relational health is to forgive, keeping a clean slate with others.

Confession;
I want to be confident that my prayers are heard and my requests granted, so I tend to my relationship with others and I am quick to forgive, just as God has forgiven me.

Note: If you experience continued unresolved relational issues, please contact a pastor, counselor, or therapist.

Thriving In a Season of Chastising, Part III

This is my second post for today, but I wanted to post the notes from today's Beth Moore's study on Life Today, "Thriving In a Season of Chastising" (part III). I encourage the reader to read each scripture reference.
What happens when we cause our suffering, our own consequences? We're full of regret. How do we deal with that? Nothing is more complex than that, when old consequences go on after you've been healed. What do you do then?
You may be dealing with consequences from sin, pride, self-righteousness, a poor business or financial decision, going ahead when "something" told you not to, an infidelity, etc. What should you do?
Know your place in God and in the Body of Christ. Hebrews 12:5-13. Endure hardship, even though it's hard. It's a part of Fatherly discipline, and it is for your good.
Hebrews 12:15. Don't miss the Grace of God! Even though it's your own fault, there's Grace for you.
Remember the difference between consequence and chastisement:
Consequence: the natural order of God as boss (you reap what you sow; it's the same for the believer and the unbeliever)
Chastisement: God's supernatural order as Father (His Abba love for you, His favored child)
When we allow God to overtake our consequences, they become part of a teaching process.
Psalm 103:10-13. God doesn't treat us as our sins deserve. God only allows the consequences to come to pass that will teach us. It is never correction for the sake of correction. It is not punishment. It will teach us. The consequences help us know that this isn't where we want to be. They help us get to the place where we're ready to change.
What makes a season of chastisement so difficult is that we have to accept our fault in the matter. We cannot "get on with it" until we do that. Hebrews 12:5b. God "rebukes" us. The word "rebukes" means to point out a fault. When He does that, accept it and learn from it.