I want to be forgiven for all that I’ve done. The words misspoken, the impulsive actions, the lack of compassion when I’m under stress. But if I’m honest, I’m not always ready to forgive others.
Yesterday, I started writing this post and then set it aside. And true to the way He works in my life, God didn’t wait for me to be ready. He provided a personal lesson on forgiveness before I could finish the one I was trying to write. My own reluctance to forgive brought soul-piercing clarity, and it put into question my efforts to stay in alignment with Him. Our behavior toward others is not separate from our relationship with the Father. That truth lives in three small words from the Lord’s Prayer: as we forgive.
When Jesus teaches us to pray in Luke 11, He gives us words that seem simple but are definitely not insignificant. In verse 4, He says:
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Luke 11:4 NLT
As We Forgive
In prayer, we ask for our sins to be forgiven as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us. Jesus does not teach us to pray, “Forgive me now, Lord, and I’ll deal with others later.” Instead, He binds our relationship with the Father to our relationships with other people. We can say all the right words, but if our hearts are hardened toward a sister or brother, something remains off.
This prayer is an invitation to examine ourselves. When we say, “Forgive us as we forgive,” we are stepping under a microscope. Every grudge, every silent resentment, every unresolved hurt can slowly pull us off course. The narrow way is not just about what we believe. It is about how we walk. And walking in mercy means releasing others into God’s hands, just as we ask God to release us from what we owe. Forgiveness softens what has hardened. It frees what has been bound. It restores peace where there was turmoil. When we forgive, we step into freedom. When we refuse, we stay tied to the offense.
This is daily, sometimes painful, but always holy work. But Luke 11:4 calls us back to it again and again. To pray honestly, forgive intentionally, and align our hearts with the Father through our compassion for others.
Every time we pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,” we are choosing to live as people who have received mercy and freely give it. That is the narrow way. That is alignment. And that is how Jesus teaches us to pray.
*For those of you who prayer walk, take time to ponder and pray ‘provide what this moment requires’. For your copy of this week’s screensaver click here. And to access all of my YouVersion Bible App devotional plans click here.