Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 11:25 (New Living Translation)

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Jesus taught the followers how to pray. Here, Jesus is talking to them about the power of prayer with an example of throwing a mountain into a sea. Jesus tosses in this little thing first. Perhaps I can just ignore this one about grudges and such and pray faithfully.

Nope. Wrong, Here it is in black and white or whatever color your computer screen or iPhone shows this, “First forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against.”

Grudges? Me? Yes, me. Lots of ’em. There must be something amiss in the translation. Forgive grudges as the first step in prayer?

In other places, the Bible mentions “a clean heart” and “a pure heart.” Grudges are in the heart or the seat of emotion. If I have grudges, wait, fix that, WHEN I have grudges, they soil me heart. I have to sweep them out with the broom of forgiveness. Hmm, I like that phrase, “The broom of forgiveness.” Let’s see if I can use that broom instead of just liking the phrase.

I need to forgive and rid my heart of grudges. Please God, help me in my unbelief.