Daily Power #73

“When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

When life doesn’t work out the way we want, it’s tempting to blame other people. Maybe it’s our parents, kids, spouse, siblings, or other family members, but we often hold them responsible for holding us back. Sometimes we pin blame on our teachers, boss, coworkers, or employees. It’s especially easy to play the blame game when one of these people offends us, hurts us, or says something critical that wounds our pride. That’s how they then end up in the bull’s-eye of our blame circle.

But Jesus reminds us over and over again that there’s a direct correlation between how we handle the offenses of others and how we handle God’s grace. If we’re not willing to forgive others—let alone quit blaming them for our decisions and actions—then we’re not able to embrace the grace of God.

It’s not that he withholds it from us based on our unwillingness to forgive; it wouldn’t be grace if that were the case. It’s simply that when we experience the fullness of God’s forgiveness in our lives, we’re prepared to forgive others. True grace is always contagious.

With God’s help, stop blaming others and start forgiving them just as God has forgiven you.

Power Lift

Dear God, I’m overwhelmed by the way you love me and forgive my sins. Remind me of your mercy as I encounter those who sin against me today.