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)
Before we pray there is one important thing we often forget. As in the Model Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) and the often learned A.C.T.S. guideline (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), we must remember to offer and seek forgiveness before we even think of asking for anything! Aftr all, we are coming before a Holy, Perfect, and All-Powerful God! We come boldly before the throne (Hebrews 4:16).
This is not done flippantly or casually! As C.H. Spurgeon said (Nov. 19,1871), "As prayer will not be truly prayer without the Spirit of Go, so it will not be prevailing prayer without the Son of God. He, the Great High Priest must go within the veil for us.....for until then, we are shut out from the living God."
Understanding this, we realize prayer is done in the presence of the Trinity. Just As the high priest had to be sure to be "clean", so to we must be cleansed of sin through the Blood of Jesus Christ!
Please do not take prayer lightly. It is NOT a ritual, a right, or a routine. It is a privilege! Father, please forgive us!
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