‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your 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 do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:7-15
Prayer is often an easy thing when we repeat the Lord's Prayer and other familiar prayers. It's harder when we are terribly hurt and know the person or system that hurt us is unrepentant. We want them to suffer, we want to get revenge and have them endure the pain we suffer. Yet, God is not like that. We need to be about the real hard work of truly forgiving, so we might know forgiveness within us. We are unburdened and set free when we forgive the cruel ones who go on hurting, when we don't give them space in our hearts and minds rent free. That kind of prayer is hard work, and needs to be repeated over and over again.
Loving Creator, you teach us to forgive daily
knowing our hurt and tender aching hearts
wishing to free us from the burden of sin.
We pray that the bad ones get punished
and forget about all the time we have hurt
never counting the cost of our misdeeds.
Lord Jesus, help our prayers be forgiving
and let our lives be filled with your compassion
so that broken hearts and lives are truly mended. Amen.
