Answered Prayers, Anybody? (Mark 11:20-25) FORGIVENESS

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  – Mark 11:24

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Prayer is often the only hope for some who remember to pray when they seem to hit roadblocks or challenges that overwhelm, financial or emotional breakdown, a health crisis etc. Answered prayer is the end purpose, even for those for whom prayer is a way of life and consistent relationship and dependence on the Lord. Answered prayer helps us grow in our faith and encourages us to pray more. 

Prayer undergirds faith. There is no faith without prayer and there is no point in praying without faith. The Bible lays down a very key prerequisite to be fulfilled, if we want our prayers to be answered. That is not easy to fulfill always and could make us uncomfortable many a times. A pre-requisite that we would rather ignore or side step, not even talk about. And yet, without fulfilling which, we should not even expect answers to our prayers, either.

The Lord assures us that our prayers will be answered, as long as we forgive. (Mark 11:24-25). In the Lord’s Prayer, the petition is clear, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:12). 

Prayers that rise from an unforgiving heart, will not and cannot be answered. Forgiveness is the basis of our salvation. God forgave our sins, in Jesus name. And that is why we are to forgive those who have wronged us. 

Have you been wondering about some prayers not being answered? Could it be that there is un-forgiveness lurking in the dark corners of your heart?

Give me the grace to forgive others, Lord, as you have forgiven me, I pray.

Extended Reading – Mark 11; John 12

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