Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 (NRSV)
There will be times when you don't feel like forgiving and worshiping God. Praising the Lord will be the last thing in the world you will want to do. African Heritage Month is an occasion when we need to praise Him.
This may require a big effort; sometimes we really have to make ourselves worship God. But it never ceases to amaze me how forgiveness and praise transform a situation. The mountains of hurt look smaller and God seems so much bigger!
African American Bishop Keith Butler states, "Any honest appraisal of history reveals that most of the things suffered by mankind came about because someone somewhere chose to do things their way instead of God's way..."
The example Christ gives us in the Lord's Prayer says it all: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." I'm not saying that we should be doormats but rather, when we forgive others, we are released from the weight of their harm and freed up to focus on God's promises.
Prayer:
Our Father God,we come to You in the name of Jesus the Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit asking you to help us to forgive those who practice injustice against your African People. Forgive us for not worshiping and praising You as we ought. May we experience your healing touch as we forgive and reach out to others in the love of God. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment