This series is not just about taking notes, we are called to adopt these prayers into our daily lives and let them change us.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‭-‬15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[9] Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us today the food we need, [12] and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [13] And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. [14] “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9.NLT

A spite house is a house built purely out of spite. There are funny stories about these being built, but they are representative of an unforgiveness in our souls. Beware of spite houses that you may be building in your heart against others.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14‭-‬15‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[14] “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.14.NLT

3 Ways to Pray for Forgiveness

1. A Deeper brokenness
2. A perpetual desperation
3. A costly decision

A Deeper Brokenness

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:9‭-‬10‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[9] Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: [10] “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.9.NLT

Jesus juxtaposing a Pharisee and a tax collector would have been jarring given the religious and political context. These two would not be seen near each other.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:11‭-‬12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! [12] I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.11.NLT

The Pharisee is really praying to himself here. He is marking his self-perceived independence and goodness apart from God.

• You may feel far from God when you pray because it is just self-therapeutic talk
• In this case, you like the idea of God, but you don't think you actually need him

💡 Independence will kill your prayer life. It is not you all on your own. You are dependent on God.

• We are very uncomfortable with silence
• Maybe God has something to say to us, but we are too busy talking to ourselves
• When your mind starts to wander, that may be God trying to work on something
• Redirect your mind to God rather than going through a rigid list you prepared

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.13.NLT

The tax collector fears God, but comes to the temple in desperation. He is earnestly pleading with God.

A Deeper Brokenness recognizes the gravity of my wrongs.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:19‭-‬20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[19] Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. [20] For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.3.19.NLT

We have Jesus who took the stand for us, and we have a Father who still loves us.

A Deeper Brokenness repents in light of God's mercy.

A Perpetual Desperation

When the tax collector beats his chest, he is in total desperation. It reflects his heart towards God.

A perpetual desperation reflects on my heart with the spirit of God.

If all I have is a groan, that's all God needs. If I only bring my pain, God can work with that.

The Pharisee had a much longer prayer, but it was not as meaningful.

💡 If independence kills prayer, desperation fuels it. Bitterness also muddles up your prayer.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:30‭-‬32‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[30] And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. [32] Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.4.30.NLT

If your fire is starting to die out, is there bitterness lodged in your heart?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[14] I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.18.14.NLT

A perpetual desperation returns to the freedom found in forgiveness.

In a Swiss study, it was found that revenge is processed in the brain as a reward. But bringing harm upon the offender does not satisfy the vengeful desire. Revenge only breeds more revenge and bitterness.

This is why when people get older, they have either the most bitter or most beautiful lives.

What is the story you are chewing on?

Bitterness is a deadly pill you swallow, hoping the other person dies.

A Costly Decision

Forgiveness is not based on my willpower
The power is at the cross.

At this point Delaney and I left the service because Hazel was having trouble in the nursery.