For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus’ words on the subject of forgiveness are well known by many, and yet, still, the root of so many difficulties within the life of a believer stem from this issue of forgiveness.

The truth is, the heart is a complex, and very deep matter.  As Jeremiah said, the heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it?  (Jeremiah 17:9).  But, speaking a little while later, the prophet wrote, “Heal me, and I will be healed;  save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14).  I do not believe we have a wicked heart, as believers, but we do have one that requires the faithful purification of a loving savior.

If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Luke 11:36

“No dark part” was Jesus’ way of stating that we must be wholly clean.  We must become free of all contaminants of soul and body, the more and more we wish to walk in His light.

Jesus said that if we claim we are blind, we are not guilty of our sin (John 9:41).  But, just as we do not desire to remain blind, we must therefore take account of the fact that things were previously were allowed to ‘get away with’, in responsibility for our new sight, we become responsible for that which was previously permissible.

Within our hearts are places of wounds, expectations and requirements upon others.  Upon the backs of others, through expectations and demands, we expect our needs, emotional, spiritual, physical, to be met by others.  As we grow, we must come to learn to recognize these.  These are not their responsibility, nor are they anyone’s but the Lord’s.

Debts are hard to pay.  They are like being in bondage to something.  “The borrower is slave to the lender”, Proverbs says (Proverbs 22:7).  But, to be free, we must free them.

Their part is not to fulfill our needs.  Their purpose is not to be there for us.  They are there to serve, and to give to.

Of course, God meets our needs through people, but it is God alone that meets them.

When expectations, needs, are placed upon others, we are their slaves.  We can neither function freely, nor be all that God has called us to be.  But, when we release others, expecting nothing except what the hand of the Lord freely provides, we are free to be what God has called us to be.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

No thing of this life, neither pleasure, honor, nor any other thing, can truly satisfy the longing of our hearts.  If some great need of childhood of nurture or abandonment has been acrued in your life, all that can be done is to forgive.

God is not a debtor.  He does know your needs.  But, you need to release it, big or small, give it all, and He will forgive you yours.

The reason for being snagged in the Spirit, when one simply wants to worship, is unforgiveness.  Whether it was a transgression against you, or a debt someone owed, forgive it.  And, you will be forgiven.