Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14 – For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (ESV)

In our church, we have recently had a week of more concerted prayer. I am now free of the various causes of pain that I have had, so I was again able to stand and play my guitar in the group during the worship time on Friday. Jesus came to meet with us in a low-key way, gently stirring our hearts to let everyone know that their prayers and praise were accepted as He was honoured.

During the painful times earlier in the summer, I had given scant time to being still before God, because getting by seemed enough. Yes, I know: No fool like an old fool.

Anyway, as a part of this communal encounter on Friday, I encountered the Holy Spirit as I rejoiced in playing again and in being a part of the process of worship. Beforehand, I had set aside an hour in church praying with others, where we used the prayer stations set up as prompts to focus as we reflected upon our walk with God. This set me up to be ready to play and worship during the following hour of prayer and praise. It was great to be spending time back in a meaningful connection with God.

One morning the following week, I had just said the Lord's Prayer, and I was sitting thinking about "forgive us our trespasses". Daisy, our Westie dog, came and sat beside me on the bed. She was looking uncomfortable because she knew that she had not honoured me by returning to me when I had called her in earlier, after her patrol of the garden perimeter. Now, here she was, making a fuss of me, wagging her tail and looking rather sheepish, just like I had during the prayer week encounter. She put her head into my armpit in submission, as if to hide her face and her embarrassment, until I had stroked her and made a fuss of her and reassured her that she was loved by me.

Then, I knew that, in Daisy's action, there was something more to discern. It was as if Jesus were encouraging and forgiving me through this vignette: "Yes, Rod, you also may be embarrassed and uncomfortable about not coming when I called you, but I love you, and I will fuss over you for who you are, quirks and all, because finally you came, and we have real relationship."

Maybe you, too, have been absent when called lately, off thinking about everything but Jesus' love for you. Perhaps, today would be a good time to seek a genuine encounter with Jesus in our prayer time.

Prayer: Lord, we come to You afresh today. We know You to be our gracious and patient Saviour, shown by Your gifts of life and mercy freely given, for which we give You thanks. We ask You to join with us as we ask forgiveness in our failure to honour You as often as we should. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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