Mark 11:25 - October 13, 2010

Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." 

Mark 11:25 reflects one of the key elements of effective prayer. Simply put it is important for every person who will stand before God in petition and intercession to be careful how you come! This passage in verse 25 communicates an essential principle for effective prayer. When we retain unforgiveness, division, and other unhealthy conditions within our hearts we are bringing forth an unclean offering to the Lord.

In First Corinthians Paul presents the consequences of bringing an unclean heart before the Lord within the context of communion. In this passage he sternly warns the Corinthians 1 Cor 11:27-32 “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” NKJV To come before the Lord without having truly examined the condition of our heart in relationship to others leaves a us in a position where at the very least we lose the benefits of our prayers and at its worst our hypocrisy opens the door for the Lord’s chastising judgment to be poured out upon us.

Peter talks about the impact of damaged relationship upon our prayers within the context of a marriage relationship when he says in 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” KJV Consider this reality: If we husbands have not honored our wives then our prayer lives are hindered! Forgiveness, self-examination, and honor in relationships are foundational necessities of an effective life of prayer.