Mark 11: 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. ” NLT
THE POSTURE OF FORGIVENESS
A man of God had a vision. In that vision, what he saw troubled him. Top leaders in his church were pregnant in the vision. He was disturbed because men don't get pregnant while some of the women had past child bearing age. God told him that the pregnancy was symbolic of unforgiveness. Most of them had grouse with one another and they have failed to forgive. I can't imagine how they have been praying with heavy hearts against one another.
What some believers don't know is that unforgiveness can hinder our prayers. Praying whilst holding grudges makes prayer exercise a waste. The devil knows that your prayer is powerful because the bible said so. He tries everything within his power to make your prayer of no effect. He makes you bitter about those that may have offended you because he wants you to take on the posture of unforgiveness. Bitterness produces unforgiveness, that's the root. That's why the bible says: "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many", Hebrews 12:15,NLT.
The poison bitterness spills into our spiritual bloodstream is unforgiveness. God didn't promise us that we won't be offended. Almost on daily basis, there'll be something or someone that will offend you wanting you to slip into bitterness and ultimately into a posture of unforgiveness. Jesus confirmed this by saying: "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!", Matthew18:7. However, because God's love over us didn't hold our offenses against us, he expects us to extend the same unto others even when they don't deserve it. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you, Ephesians 4:32 NLT.
Father, I forgive(...mention name) in Jesus name.