The importance of prayer can not be overestimated. It is not only a great privilege, but it is also a command. Paul exhorts us, with the authority of an apostle, to pray regularly.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Pray without ceasing,
With the importance of prayer in view, we are looking, this week, at things that hinder our prayers, hoping to avoid these hindrances. We have seen that sin, in general, will stop us from having an effective prayer life, for God does not listen to sinners (Isaiah 59:2; John 9:31; 1 Peter 3:12). Let us now get more specific.
An unwillingness to forgive others will stop God from responding positively to our prayers. This point is made unequivocally by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness is a fundamental aspect of our Christianity. If it were not for the willingness of God to forgive us, we would not have a relationship with Him, and the whole discussion of prayer would be immaterial. Due to this, the idea that we are not willing to forgive others is repulsive to God. This is clearly seen in the parable Jesus gave of the unforgiving servant.
In Matthew 18:21-35, we have a parable wherein a man is forgiven of a great debt, but, then, refuses to forgive a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller debt. Notice the consequences this man experienced for having such an unforgiving heart, and the application that Jesus makes for us.
Matthew 18:32-35 (ESV)
32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Not only can we not have a praying relationship with God if we refuse to forgive, but we can also have no relationship with Him at all. Let us never find ourselves in a place where we are holding grudges against others. The bitterness it causes within us will make it impossible to be a Christian (Hebrews 12:15). Not being willing to forgive will put a wedge between us and God now, and cost us our souls in the end. Do you think it is worth it? I hope not.
What a joy it is to know we are at peace with God (Romans 5:1), and can access His throne whenever we desire to do so. Is there anyone better to turn to in times of need than God? Of course not. We do not ever have to wonder if it is okay to approach God through prayer. No time is a bad time to talk to Him. We not only have access to our heavenly Father, but we also have it confidently and with boldness. Paul tells us that in Christ “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Ephesians 3:11-12). But first, we must make sure that we forgive our debtors for their trespasses just like God has forgiven us.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.