In our church, almost every Sabbath, children are given the opportunity to pray. We are very pleased to hear their childlike voices lifted up towards the Heavenly Throne through the Lord's Prayer. What we can learn from them is simplicity and sincerity.

Once, however, one of them, probably by mistake, instead of saying, “and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” prayed “and forgive us our debts not as we forgive our debtors.” Amazed and surprised by what I had just heard, I opened my eyes to look at the child who was praying—and I said to myself, “This is the right way to pray; this is for us, the adults.” It describes us perfectly—because we ask God to be forgiven, but when it's time for us to forgive, we find it to be very difficult.

The prayer ended, we rose, but those words were still resounding in my mind. Yes!!! I'm inclined to believe that if we were to pray the Lord's Prayer more often, we would become more kind and forgiving towards those who, in our mind, are guilty of offending us. Have we ever meditated deeply upon these words “and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”?

How could God forgive our sins if we are unforgiving, vengeful and cannot forget the evil that has been done to us? How much longer are we going to stay in the same situation and deceive ourselves by thinking that we are Christians? If this is the case, then our going to church is in vain. How many fellow believers excuse themselves by thinking, “This is how I am, accept me as I am.” Yes, people can accept you as you are and treat you in an insincere way—but how is God going to look at you?

“He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there's no respect of persons” (Colossians 3:25).

God has given us clear instructions through Paul, “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption . . . And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:30, 32).

If we are vengeful, unforgiving, or unkind, we are grieving the Holy Spirit. God clearly says, “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3, first part). Knowing all this, if we continually grieve the Holy Spirit, then he will eventually depart from us. David, tearfully praying for this very reason wrote, ”Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11).

Jesus promises that “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

This is the reason why we need the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. What happens when the Spirit departs from a person? The spirit of deceit comes and that person is doomed. Are we going to remain a people with hardened hearts? The apostle Paul mentions in Acts 7:51, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”

The inspired word tells us, “When sin has deadened the moral perceptions, the wrongdoer does not discern the defects of his character nor realize the enormity of the evil he has committed; and unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin. His confessions are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowledgment of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course, declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances he would not have done this or that for which he is reproved.”1

We have to ask for forgiveness from our brother or sister, but without trying to make excuses for our defects of character, or excusing ourselves because of our circumstances. When we are not willing to forgive, then God does not live in us, but when God abides in believers' hearts, they are enabled, through love, to forgive and to do good even to those who have wronged them. All need to learn to forgive. There is a song in another language that says the following:

“To forgive just as you breathe

As you drink and eat your daily bread

And then He'll listen to your prayers

When in you the light of forgiveness burns.

To be able to forgive—forgiveness is a power;

For unforgiveness is a fatal spirit.

To the grave the evil and unforgiveness

My friend and brother, do not take with you.”

The apostle says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16).

“Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer.” 2

God does not deal with us as we deal with our fellowmen. He treats us with mercy, love and tender care. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22).

“And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” There is a condition that needs to be met. If we forgive those who have erred against us, then God will forgive our sins. However, what tends to happen is that we want forgiveness without forgiving others. We want to be loved without being loving. We want others to come and socialize with us, but when it's our turn to do so, we don't want to do it.

“I,” this is “Me.” And “I” expect others to come and talk with me, to be friendly, to love, forgive, and the list goes on. But how is it that “someone” has to do something for me, but “I” do not need to do anything for others? Because “Me” is “Me.”

Have we ever asked ourselves if there was anyone that has gone to their grave whom we have offended or have not forgiven?

How many times have we hurt our friends—and even our parents—with harsh words, and forgot to ask forgiveness? Time washes away the painful memories and heals the wounded hearts. But we forget that the deeper the wounds, the uglier the scars—and even though wounds heal, the scars are visible, and they can hurt for a very long time.

We often forget that death can take our loved ones away from us, and with sadness we'll remember that we could've done and said more—but we did nothing instead.

Those who do not forgive are constantly complaining and ungrateful. In their eyes, everyone is guilty and they find fault with everyone, and no matter where they are, they are always dissatisfied.

My dear friends, God is calling us to have a change of heart. But instead of that, people choose to move somewhere else or leave the church. We can run away from situations and people, but we can never run away from our thoughts or feelings. Why is that? Let everyone answer this question for themselves!

Dear reader, Christ's kingdom is founded on love, and if we are unable to forgive, that means we do not love. If that's the case, then for us there's no place in this Kingdom of Love.

Sometimes we should feel a burning desire to utter this prayer: “Lord, we are so sinful, it is so hard for us to ask for forgiveness. We can't easily forget when we are wronged, we can't reconcile, we're easily offended, we don't show the necessary love. Oh, Lord, do not hide Your face and do not take away Your Holy Spirit from us. Forgive us our sins, help us to change . . . and to forgive; forgive us, not as we forgive those who are indebted to us.”