God forgive them
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We hear the burden of your heart in these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Himself from the cross, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing, Luke 23:34. We join with you in this prayer for mercy and we are moved that you would intercede for others even as you may be carrying hurt yourself.
This is the very heart of the gospel, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, and that He interceded for those who crucified Him. Stephen followed this same example when he prayed as he was being stoned, Lord, don't hold this sin against them, Acts 7:60. We are called to this same forgiveness, as it is written, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you, Ephesians 4:32, and, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matthew 6:14. Forgiveness does not mean that wrong is not real or that justice does not matter, for it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord, Romans 12:19, but it releases the offender into God's hands and frees our own hearts from bitterness.
We notice your prayer appeals to God for forgiveness, and we want to gently remind us all that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and receive forgiveness ourselves. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and, There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. It is by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that forgiveness is made possible. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your trust fully in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, for, if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, Romans 10:9.
We pray together now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You for the mercy You have shown us through the cross, where Jesus prayed for His enemies. We ask that You would forgive those who have caused hurt and sinned, for they often do not understand the depth of what they do. We ask that You would open their eyes to the truth of Your love and bring them to repentance and to salvation through Jesus. And Father, we ask that You would pour Your grace into the heart of the one praying this prayer, that You would heal any wound, give strength to forgive as You have forgiven us, and fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to bear with one another and forgive as You forgave us, Colossians 3:13, and to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us, Matthew 5:44. Let Your will be done and let Your forgiveness and transforming power be seen in all our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, amen.
This is the very heart of the gospel, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, and that He interceded for those who crucified Him. Stephen followed this same example when he prayed as he was being stoned, Lord, don't hold this sin against them, Acts 7:60. We are called to this same forgiveness, as it is written, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you, Ephesians 4:32, and, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matthew 6:14. Forgiveness does not mean that wrong is not real or that justice does not matter, for it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord, Romans 12:19, but it releases the offender into God's hands and frees our own hearts from bitterness.
We notice your prayer appeals to God for forgiveness, and we want to gently remind us all that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and receive forgiveness ourselves. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and, There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. It is by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that forgiveness is made possible. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your trust fully in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, for, if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, Romans 10:9.
We pray together now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You for the mercy You have shown us through the cross, where Jesus prayed for His enemies. We ask that You would forgive those who have caused hurt and sinned, for they often do not understand the depth of what they do. We ask that You would open their eyes to the truth of Your love and bring them to repentance and to salvation through Jesus. And Father, we ask that You would pour Your grace into the heart of the one praying this prayer, that You would heal any wound, give strength to forgive as You have forgiven us, and fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to bear with one another and forgive as You forgave us, Colossians 3:13, and to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us, Matthew 5:44. Let Your will be done and let Your forgiveness and transforming power be seen in all our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, amen.
We noticed your words and the heart behind them. Wanting God to forgive those who have hurt you, even while the hurt is still fresh, is not easy. We hear both pain and mercy in what you wrote.
One thing that has helped many of us is recognizing that forgiveness often happens in two layers. There is a clear decision to let go of getting even and to treat the other person as someone still made in God's image, and then there is the slower, quiet work of the heart where resentment and fear gradually lose their grip. The decision can come in a moment, the emotions often take longer, and that does not mean you have failed. Forgiveness also does not automatically mean everything goes back to how it was.
If it would help, you might set aside a few unhurried minutes this week to tell God honestly what was done and how it affected you, and then simply tell Him you choose, with His help, to release that debt to Him. If the feelings rise again later, you can remind yourself of that choice without judging yourself for still healing.
Father, we bring our friend before You and the people on their heart. Cover them with Your peace as they walk this road of forgiveness, heal what is wounded, and draw those who caused pain closer to Your truth and mercy. Give our friend wisdom and rest in Your care. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
One thing that has helped many of us is recognizing that forgiveness often happens in two layers. There is a clear decision to let go of getting even and to treat the other person as someone still made in God's image, and then there is the slower, quiet work of the heart where resentment and fear gradually lose their grip. The decision can come in a moment, the emotions often take longer, and that does not mean you have failed. Forgiveness also does not automatically mean everything goes back to how it was.
If it would help, you might set aside a few unhurried minutes this week to tell God honestly what was done and how it affected you, and then simply tell Him you choose, with His help, to release that debt to Him. If the feelings rise again later, you can remind yourself of that choice without judging yourself for still healing.
Father, we bring our friend before You and the people on their heart. Cover them with Your peace as they walk this road of forgiveness, heal what is wounded, and draw those who caused pain closer to Your truth and mercy. Give our friend wisdom and rest in Your care. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
Those words upon your lips are the very words of our Lord upon the cross, and to have them written upon your heart is a token that God Himself has written intercession there. It is God that writes intercession upon men's hearts, and when He does so He makes a man quick to seize every advantage in pleading with Him.
You ask that God would forgive them, for they know not what they do. In this you are in sympathy with our Divine Saviour who made intercession for the transgressors. It is a part of His priestly office to make intercession for His people, and He exercises this office continually within the veil. What a mercy that we have such an Intercessor, for there is forgiveness, there is mercy to be obtained from God through Jesus Christ alone. He has not given to any man the power to forgive sins, but He delights in mercy, and through the blood of Christ justice is satisfied and mercy is not excluded.
Do not judge God's heart by your own hard heart. You come to an end of your forgiveness before long, but God goes on to seventy times seven and on and on and never comes to the end of pardoning mercy so long as a soul cries to Him for forgiveness. His mercy is tender mercy. It was a proof of great tenderness on God's part to think of His sinful creature man at all, and great tenderness is seen in its great provisions, for He gave His Son to bear wrath that mercy might put her hand upon the hilt of justice and say, Be still. The Lord is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, and He delights to pardon because it is His very Self to do so, for God is love. Yet know this, that this tender mercy is found only in Christ. If you seek mercy, be you who you may, you shall have it if you will believe in Christ Jesus, for according to the riches of His grace He washes the vilest sinner whiter than snow. Sin is great, and for that reason the sinner thinks it cannot be pardoned, as if he measured the Lord by his sin, but the wisdom of God has been engaged to find out the way of doing it through the cross.
You do well to pray thus, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, and the Holy Spirit Himself helpeth our infirmities and maketh intercession for us in a proper manner. His intercession is for the saints, to teach them to pray aright, but your calling now is to stand as Samuel stood, of whom it is said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Let no slight or hardness on their part provoke you to cease. We do not know for certain that the most guilty person has indeed passed the bounds of mercy, and therefore we may intercede with hope.
Pursue them then with persistent intercession, even until their souls have passed beyond the reach of change, and plead the blood and merits of Jesus on their behalf. Pray that God in His sovereign mercy would overtake them even as He overtook Hagar by the well in the wilderness, that He would put home questions to their conscience, bring them low if need be by affliction and sorrow, and then make them feel the way of salvation as well as know it. All God's mercy to a sinner is gratis. He never sells, He always gives, because He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.
May the Lord grant you grace to continue in this blessed work, and may those for whom you pray be led to repent and believe the gospel, turning from their sin to live, that they may obtain that forgiveness which flows only through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
You ask that God would forgive them, for they know not what they do. In this you are in sympathy with our Divine Saviour who made intercession for the transgressors. It is a part of His priestly office to make intercession for His people, and He exercises this office continually within the veil. What a mercy that we have such an Intercessor, for there is forgiveness, there is mercy to be obtained from God through Jesus Christ alone. He has not given to any man the power to forgive sins, but He delights in mercy, and through the blood of Christ justice is satisfied and mercy is not excluded.
Do not judge God's heart by your own hard heart. You come to an end of your forgiveness before long, but God goes on to seventy times seven and on and on and never comes to the end of pardoning mercy so long as a soul cries to Him for forgiveness. His mercy is tender mercy. It was a proof of great tenderness on God's part to think of His sinful creature man at all, and great tenderness is seen in its great provisions, for He gave His Son to bear wrath that mercy might put her hand upon the hilt of justice and say, Be still. The Lord is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, and He delights to pardon because it is His very Self to do so, for God is love. Yet know this, that this tender mercy is found only in Christ. If you seek mercy, be you who you may, you shall have it if you will believe in Christ Jesus, for according to the riches of His grace He washes the vilest sinner whiter than snow. Sin is great, and for that reason the sinner thinks it cannot be pardoned, as if he measured the Lord by his sin, but the wisdom of God has been engaged to find out the way of doing it through the cross.
You do well to pray thus, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, and the Holy Spirit Himself helpeth our infirmities and maketh intercession for us in a proper manner. His intercession is for the saints, to teach them to pray aright, but your calling now is to stand as Samuel stood, of whom it is said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Let no slight or hardness on their part provoke you to cease. We do not know for certain that the most guilty person has indeed passed the bounds of mercy, and therefore we may intercede with hope.
Pursue them then with persistent intercession, even until their souls have passed beyond the reach of change, and plead the blood and merits of Jesus on their behalf. Pray that God in His sovereign mercy would overtake them even as He overtook Hagar by the well in the wilderness, that He would put home questions to their conscience, bring them low if need be by affliction and sorrow, and then make them feel the way of salvation as well as know it. All God's mercy to a sinner is gratis. He never sells, He always gives, because He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.
May the Lord grant you grace to continue in this blessed work, and may those for whom you pray be led to repent and believe the gospel, turning from their sin to live, that they may obtain that forgiveness which flows only through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
Praying in Jesus Name. Amen.
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Chrysostom
Beloved of All
The words you have prayed are the words of Jesus Himself from the cross, and to make them your own is a work of mercy. Scripture shows us that God is pitiful and merciful, long suffering and of great mercy, and that His mercy is over all the earth. While we were still enemies He reconciled us through the offering of His Son, who by one offering has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
Because God has shown such mercy to us, He teaches us to pray, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and to show mercy to others. This prayer belongs to those who believe and call God Father, and it reminds us that even after we have received grace, repentance remains open to us. When we remember our sins and ask forgiveness, and when we forgive those who have wronged us, we are set free from revenge and we come to know more deeply the mercy of God.
So we can pray with you for those who do not know what they do, not that God would simply overlook sin, but that He would have mercy upon them, open their eyes, and bring them to repentance and to salvation through Jesus Christ alone. In His patience God delays judgment so that more may turn to Him and live. For those who are in darkness, we ask that God would grant them to see the truth, to turn from sin, and to receive forgiveness through faith in Christ.
Continue to show mercy as a true mark of a Christian, binding mercy and truth to yourself and never letting them leave you. Have mercy on others and you will find mercy from God. And as you pray Lord have mercy upon me, also have mercy on yourself by turning from sin and walking in what is pleasing to Him. May God keep you faithful, sober and watchful, remembering that there is a judgment and a resurrection, and may He make you an instrument of His mercy to those for whom you intercede.
Because God has shown such mercy to us, He teaches us to pray, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and to show mercy to others. This prayer belongs to those who believe and call God Father, and it reminds us that even after we have received grace, repentance remains open to us. When we remember our sins and ask forgiveness, and when we forgive those who have wronged us, we are set free from revenge and we come to know more deeply the mercy of God.
So we can pray with you for those who do not know what they do, not that God would simply overlook sin, but that He would have mercy upon them, open their eyes, and bring them to repentance and to salvation through Jesus Christ alone. In His patience God delays judgment so that more may turn to Him and live. For those who are in darkness, we ask that God would grant them to see the truth, to turn from sin, and to receive forgiveness through faith in Christ.
Continue to show mercy as a true mark of a Christian, binding mercy and truth to yourself and never letting them leave you. Have mercy on others and you will find mercy from God. And as you pray Lord have mercy upon me, also have mercy on yourself by turning from sin and walking in what is pleasing to Him. May God keep you faithful, sober and watchful, remembering that there is a judgment and a resurrection, and may He make you an instrument of His mercy to those for whom you intercede.
Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer echoes the very words of Jesus on the cross when He said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That is a Christlike prayer, and it reflects the heart of God Himself.
Scripture tells us that God delights in mercy and that His mercy endures forever. He is not eager to judge but eager to forgive. You see this in how He dealt with Nineveh. He sent Jonah to warn that great city of judgment, and when the people turned to Him, He showed mercy instead. That is His nature. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.
Mercy means not receiving what we do deserve, while justice means receiving what we do deserve. All of us need mercy, for we have all sinned. It is easy to want mercy for ourselves and to want justice for those who have hurt us. David often prayed that way, crying out for God to be merciful to him while asking for judgment on his enemies. That is our human tendency. Yet Jesus shows us a better way, to ask for mercy even for those who wrong us.
How can a holy God be merciful and still be just. Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed, in the person of Jesus Christ. At the cross, the penalty for sin was paid in full, so that God can forgive the guilty and still remain just. Forgiveness is offered not because the wrong was small, but because the price was paid by Jesus.
The Bible says that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him, and that His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. There is no limit to it. It is not worn out. God has said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and He is sovereign in showing mercy, yet He invites all who will call upon Him to come and receive it. No one who truly calls on the Lord will find that His mercy has run out.
So continue to bring those who have hurt you before the Lord. Pray that God in His mercy would open their eyes, as He opened yours, to see their need for Jesus. Pray that they would come to repentance and receive the forgiveness that is only found through faith in Christ. And as you pray for them, remember to rest in that same mercy yourself. Ask the Lord to remember you according to His mercy and for His goodness sake, and trust that His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
May the Lord comfort you as you choose the way of mercy, and may He work in the hearts of those for whom you are praying, drawing them to the truth and grace that are found in Jesus alone.
Scripture tells us that God delights in mercy and that His mercy endures forever. He is not eager to judge but eager to forgive. You see this in how He dealt with Nineveh. He sent Jonah to warn that great city of judgment, and when the people turned to Him, He showed mercy instead. That is His nature. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.
Mercy means not receiving what we do deserve, while justice means receiving what we do deserve. All of us need mercy, for we have all sinned. It is easy to want mercy for ourselves and to want justice for those who have hurt us. David often prayed that way, crying out for God to be merciful to him while asking for judgment on his enemies. That is our human tendency. Yet Jesus shows us a better way, to ask for mercy even for those who wrong us.
How can a holy God be merciful and still be just. Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed, in the person of Jesus Christ. At the cross, the penalty for sin was paid in full, so that God can forgive the guilty and still remain just. Forgiveness is offered not because the wrong was small, but because the price was paid by Jesus.
The Bible says that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him, and that His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. There is no limit to it. It is not worn out. God has said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and He is sovereign in showing mercy, yet He invites all who will call upon Him to come and receive it. No one who truly calls on the Lord will find that His mercy has run out.
So continue to bring those who have hurt you before the Lord. Pray that God in His mercy would open their eyes, as He opened yours, to see their need for Jesus. Pray that they would come to repentance and receive the forgiveness that is only found through faith in Christ. And as you pray for them, remember to rest in that same mercy yourself. Ask the Lord to remember you according to His mercy and for His goodness sake, and trust that His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
May the Lord comfort you as you choose the way of mercy, and may He work in the hearts of those for whom you are praying, drawing them to the truth and grace that are found in Jesus alone.
