Today's Verse: Mark 11:25

Thursday, November 25, 1948

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This passage is one of the most challenging reminders of God's will in Scripture. I MUST forgive others! When I refuse to forgive, I build a dam, stopping the stream of forgiveness God longs to give me. Forgiving others is seldom easy. It is often quite difficult and painful. However, God has commanded us to do it and given us his Son as an example of how to forgive (Luke 23:34). Jesus has promised to empower us to do his will by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-21) as we are transformed to become like him (2 Corinthians 3:18). The real issue: Will I let go of my bitterness toward those who have wounded me? Yet when we harbor bitterness and unforgiveness, we hold ourselves hostage to our hate and resentment. As the saying says, "Forgiveness is setting the captive bird free, then realizing you were the captive bird!"

My Prayer...

Dear God, I confess this is a hard command. But, dear Father, I want to forgive these people (please add the names you are committing to forgive) of the sin they have committed against me. Please block cynicism and bitterness from my heart. Please empower me to forgive as Jesus did. Please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart and fill me with love and forgiveness. In addition, dear Father, please teach me what my commitment to forgive means for the genuine life changes I need to make. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 11:25 — "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, November 25, 1948

Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, keeper of every promise, Thank you for disclosing to us the mystery of what is to come! Keep us looking forward to that moment when we....."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"But the Lord said [to Ananias], "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"[Peter, on Pentecost, quoting God's promise from Joel 2:] "In [the last] days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants — men and women alike —..."
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.