07-Aug-2024 – Forgive and be Forgiven
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do – Romans 7:15
This verse is a profound statement that speaks the truth directly to us. It highlights the vulnerability of humans even after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, it helps us understand the value of God’s grace and mercy in our lives.
Here, the writer extensively describes his struggle with his mind. To be honest, our mind can be a very corrupted place, masked behind a beautiful exterior.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.Matthew 15:19
Our heart is a factory for such thoughts. To validate this, a simple experiment is sufficient. We all have weaknesses that we may not even share with friends. I might have a tendency to steal, or to look at the opposite gender with lust, or to destroy things that belong to others without reason. If we introspect our secret life, we will find many examples.
If you are a believer and find yourself alone in a situation favorable for your weakness to manifest—say, you find a mobile shop unlocked and iPhones are tempting, and if your weakness is stealing, you might feel an immediate urge to act on it. This is the law of sin that Paul was referring to.
Your mind rewards you with dopamine when you fulfill your hidden desires, which are stored in your heart. This is how your flesh becomes vulnerable to the world’s influences. As the world increasingly grows in vanity and profanity, your only hope is Jesus Christ.
When bombarded with impulses from your flesh, your spirit begins to recall the Word of God, the promises, and the warnings because the Holy Spirit brings these to mind. Initially, you may fail to heed the Spirit’s leading and fall into sin. However, God will take you through a refining process to remove unwanted elements from your life. When you realize your wrongs and feel compelled to come before God with repentance, that is the work of the Holy Spirit in you.
When you sincerely pray, confessing your situation and weaknesses, and seek correction through God’s guidance via His Word and the Holy Spirit, the law of the Spirit will transition you from darkness to light and from death to life.
Recognizing this truth about our vulnerability helps us to pray the Lord’s Prayer with sincerity, where every sentence reflects a heartfelt confession of our shortcomings and acknowledgment of God’s grace and mercy through Jesus Christ.
“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil – Luke 11:4”
When we pray this, understanding our vulnerability, we also exhibit love and compassion toward others. By forgiving those who have wronged us, we open ourselves to God’s forgiveness of our own sins. True repentance enables us to forgive others; without it, we remain arrogant.
So let us make it a habit to pray specifically for our heart and mind, particularly regarding our secret desires. Daily, let us confess before God and seek His guidance to overcome these struggles. Let us also include prayers for forgiving others who have wronged us. Perhaps we could call this a “forgiveness prayer”—a prayer to forgive and to be forgiven.
Prayer
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for guiding me to an important aspect of my prayer life and spiritual journey. I recognize that I have secret struggles. Help me, Lord, to pray for forgiveness, remembering those who have wronged me and forgiving them. Transform me into Your image. I pray this in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!
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