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And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. – Matthew 6:12
Many godly believers in the past have recommended to pray the Lord’s prayer multiple times a day, in many Church traditions every sunday the Lord’s prayer is recited. In the underground North Korean Church they put emphasis on reciting the Lord’s Prayer together. One of the benefits of this practice is daily you can check your heart if you have any unforgiveness in it towards someone. As our Lord shows us that we should expect God to forgive us debts as we also have done to others. Some brothers and sisters claim that they do not have unforgiveness towards an individual but in their hearts their actions show they do have this poison. The Lord has forgiven us and does not hold or accuse us over sins that have been forgiven, but when we say we forgive others, we still hold their sins to the light, such is not true forgiveness. Only God is the one that can truly help someone that has sinned, when humans try and fix a problem without God it ends up getting much worse. When we forgive others we also release ourselves from bondage and open the door for God to bring healing to our heart. When we hold onto bitternress, resentment, and unforgivenness we can suffer throughout life with problems and end up hurting ourselves much more.
John Chrysostom says, “Just as maniacs, who never enjoy tranquility, so also he who is resentful and retains an enemy will never have the enjoyment of any peace; incessantly raging and daily increasing the tempest of his thoughts calling to mind his words and acts, and detesting the very name of him who has aggrieved him. Do you but mention his enemy, he becomes furious at once, and sustains much inward anguish; and should he chance to get only a bare sight of him, he fears and trembles, as if encountering the worst evils, Yet for the very torment resulting from the thing itself we ought to forgive the offences of those who have aggrieved us. What can be more senseless than the man, who both here and there brings punishment upon himself, while he thinks to be revenged upon his enemy.” The amplified bible translation says, “Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14). You cannot have forgiveness towards others and gossip about them. To bless is to speak well of them and to curse is to speak in a wrong accusing way. When we carry resentment for feeling we have been unfairly treated by another in the body of Christ we end up putting ourselves in harms way as well as hurting others. Unforgiveness is spiritual filthiness, a poison for your soul, a prison of torment. Forgive and give the individual to God and even have the grace to love and accept the individual again.