Forgive and Forgiven
Fast
Fast from scrolling, entertainment, and social media, using that reclaimed time to pray with someone.

Matthew 6:12
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

I remember how thrilled I was as a child when I first learned the Lord’s Prayer. I could recite it on demand with pride and joy, feeling so grown-up as the words rolled off my tongue. But it wasn’t until many years later that I truly began to understand the weight of my prayer. I surely wanted my heavenly Father’s name to be blessed and cherished. I longed for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. I trusted Him to provide for my needs. And of course, I absolutely wanted Him to forgive my sins. But did I really need to forgive others who had wounded me? That part felt harder — easier to say than to live.

This became especially real during a quiet time with God. I came to Him carrying deep hurt, explaining in detail how painful the situation had been and how misunderstood I felt. In my heart, I wanted Him to agree with me, to validate my resentment. Instead, He quietly asked me one simple question: “Have I ever withheld My love from you?”

Those words stopped me. They cut through my self-serving excuses and opened my eyes to the truth. No — God has never withheld His love from me. Not once. Even when I blatantly disobeyed, ignored His conviction, or clung to my pride, His grace met me every time I turned back to Him. His forgiveness has always been complete, immediate, and undeserved.

Realizing that changed my hold on my pride, my hurt. How could I hold someone else’s sin so tightly when Jesus had released mine completely? Forgiveness doesn’t deny the wound; it hands it over to the only One who can heal it. It frees us from the weight of bitterness and aligns our hearts with His.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” is an invitation for every believer to release our hurts, receive God’s grace and extend that same grace to others even when it feels unfair.

Lord, You have never withheld Your love. Help me forgive others as You have forgiven me.

Blessings and grace!

Andi Farrell
Director of Women’s and Connection Ministries
Houston’s First Baptist Church - Cypress

Prayer Guide
- Search your heart, confessing any sins, wounds, or persisting resentment.
- Ask God to help you forgive someone you may be holding something against.
- Pray for humility and reconciliation.

Action Step
Light a candle and set an alarm for five minutes to sit in silence.

Prayer Practice
Pray with someone. Partner with another person committing to pray for 10 minutes together (spouse, kids, a friend, or all the above) either in person, over the phone, or via video call.