Daily Devotion: The Word Revealed - How to Pray for Forgiveness and the Power to Forgive Others - 1 John 1:5-2:2, Mark 11:25-26

Confessing Sin

When there is sin which has not been confessed, there is a breach in the love relationship we have with the Lord.  Nothing harms our love relationship with the Lord more than sin that we carry, and abide in, rather than confessing that sin in the name of Christ our Lord.  1 John 1:5-2:2 teaches this truth in a wonderful, yet convicting, manner, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”  Confession of sin is a very personal area of our prayer life.  That is why it is so important in our very personal love relationship with the Lord.

Pause & Ponder: Do you pray, “and forgive me of my sins?”  Or do you pray stating the specific sin for which you desire forgiveness?  If you pray the generic, “forgive me of my sins” type of prayer, you will not feel the love of God toward you in the same vibrant, overwhelming, forgiving fashion that you will if you pray stating the specific sins for which you desire forgiveness. Naming specific sins, specifically requesting forgiveness of those sins in your prayer life, will draw you more lovingly and passionately into a deeper love relationship with God.

Forgiving Sins Against You

When we have been forgiven of our sins there is a cleansing that is the best and most free feeling in the world.  Once you have experienced forgiveness, you join hands with God in the work of forgiving those who have sinned against you.  We learn so much about the love of God when we forgive others.  Forgiveness is not something we receive and that is the end of the transaction.  No, we are commanded by our Lord in Mark 11:25-26 to forgive others, “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.” We are so cleansed when God forgives our sins, but additionally, we are so cleansed of hurt, anger, and bitterness, when we obediently forgive other’s sins against us. 

Pause & Ponder: Pray to God your Father and ask for the love, power, and obedience to forgive others.  As you grow in the ability to forgive others, your love relationship with the Lord will grow as well.