Lord We Need Your Help

Matthew 6:9-13: Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father in heaven hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done as in heaven so on earth, Give us bread for our needs day to day, And Forgive us our offenses, as we have forgiven our offenders, and do no let us enter into temptation, but deliver us from error, Because Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever, Amen (Lamsa Aramaic Bible Version).

I have chosen the Lamsa Aramaic version for our scripture today because Jesus spoke Aramaic and sometimes meanings of words can be lost in translations. It was also this vivid translation of the Lord’s words that really got me thinking one day about the Lord’s Prayer as we have come to refer to it.

I was sitting one day looking at the Lord’s Prayer – and going over and over it in my mind. But this time it was different – there was something troubling me about the prayer – not that the prayer was wrong mind you – but something was wrong in me. I kept asking the Lord over and over again what is it Lord – why does this prayer now gnaw at me. And then it was as if a light just shone on the words “And Forgive us our offenses, as we have forgiven our offenders”. And then I cried.

Why did this text bother me? Well if any of you are like me – we say we have forgiven – but yet we can remember every detail that Johnnie, or Sue, or Bobby or our ex-spouse who we divorced 20 years ago and may even be dead and gone did – and you know what that is – we’re holding down to unforgiveness. Not that we want to mind you. I believe most of us want to forgive and let go – we just need help in doing it. And then it hit me – and that’s why I’ve changed how I say this prayer now. Mind you, I know scripture says not to change a word –but hear me out first.

Have you ever really thought about the Lord’s Prayer – and those words “Forgive us our offenses, sins, debts (whichever version you use), as we have forgiven our offenders, those who have sinned against us, or our debtors”? Think about it, if the Lord forgave us like we forgive others – we would all be up the creek without a paddle and no boat either.

That’s when I started crying and telling the Lord – Lord I need help – we all need help. We need to learn how to forgive each other. I don’t know about you – but I’m so glad that the Lord said: "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) - because if they weren’t none of us would stand a chance at forgiveness.

Yet, the Lord told us to do it – which makes me know that He wouldn’t ask to do something if He weren’t going to give us the power to do it. Why then is there so much hate and anger in the world, why do we hold down to so much pain – especially since not only did the Lord tell us to forgive – but also because it has been proven scientifically now that the Lord was right – because unforgiveness is not healthy for you either.

So again, why do we hold down to something that isn’t good for us – rather than forgiving and letting it go? I believe a lot of us don’t know what forgiveness is. In the church we are taught that you have to totally forgive and forget the pain, hurt, offense, sin, debt, etc. However, in this human body which we still are in with our human tendencies I don’t believe we’ve reached the “agape love or forgiveness stage yet”. But I do believe that we have to get to the point of not allowing the offense to hold us back from what God has for us.

See we can be so busy thinking about what so and so did to us that – now so and so is on the throne rather than the King of Kings – the Lord who brought you out and away from so and so – who is the one who is supposed to be on the throne. So the offense, the offender, the deed, the hurt, the pain, the anger, bitterness, resentment – all become Baal’s – other gods – and than where does the Almighty God – the Everlasting Father – the Prince of Peace fit in?

As many of you know, my son was murdered in 2005 – and I thought I had forgiven the people who murdered him. In fact, let’s go back further, I was a victim of child abuse – I thought I had fully forgiven my parents. I was in battered and beaten in relationships – I thought I had forgiven my ex-husband and ex-friend; I was hurt and abused on the jobs – I thought I had forgiven those people; and I was hurt and abused in Church – and I thought I had forgiven them too. But guess what – I hadn’t really – and that’s why I believe Jesus told Peter we must forgive 70 x 70 – because forgiveness is an ongoing state. Whenever a thought about what someone did comes into my mind now – I know it’s an attack from the enemy and I refuse to go there – so I just ask the Lord – PLEASE HELP ME LORD TO FULLY FORGIVE THIS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO FULLY FORGIVE ME TOO. You see sooner or later, things crop up – little outbursts, or you wonder why you feel upset when this person does something – that’s similar to something someone else did – and then you realize – uh oh – I thought I had forgiven and let that go. It doesn’t mean that you approve of what they did – it’s that you can’t hold down to the hurt any longer.

You see I have found that as long as I hold down to the hurt and pain – I’ve allowed that person or situation to keep me in prison. My son’s murderers are in prison behind metal bars – BUT THEY CAN ALSO IF I GIVE THEM THE POWER KEEP ME IN PRISON BEHIND MENTAL BARS. I don’t think so – God didn’t bring me through to allow that to happen – but as La’Kesha said – once we’ve asked the Lord for help - we have to seek and knock – seek out those good thoughts to take away the negative, seek out those forgiving words, knock those unforgiving thoughts and feelings out of the way – it’s all about cleaning up the inside of our cups. Now mind you, I’m not saying this is easy and it’s going to happen overnight. No ma’am, no sir. I’m just saying that we have to try. WHEN IT HURTS MORE TO HOLD DOWN TO IT THAN TO LET IT GO – IT’S TIME TO LET GO AND LET GOD.


I know that there are a lot of people reading this today and saying “You don’t understand what I’ve been through. They hurt me too bad. I can’t forgive them. I’ve been traumatized – how can you sit there and tell me to forgive them? And you know what, you’re right – I don’t know what you’ve been through - I haven’t walked in your shoes and I can’t tell you what to do and I won’t even try. That’s between you and your God. I’m just asking today if you’ve gotten to the point that you’re tired of hurting, tired of crying, tired of being tired. Are you tired of having no joy, of maybe even seeing the other person or persons go on with their lives – smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves – don’t you deserve the same life? I know it hurts, I know life will never be the same – but even God told Israel “SHAKE THYSELF FROM THE DUST; ARISE, AND SIT DOWN, O JERUSALEM: LOOSE THYSELF FROM THE BANDS OF THY NECK, O CAPTIVE DAUGHTER OF ZION (Isaiah 52:2). The captivity of the Jews was physical but it had psychological effects that will have to be discarded. At the same time the experience may have had some good in that it did perhaps teach us humility and sensitivity towards others and their hurting (A Brit-Am Biblical Commentary). But remember, what Joseph said – “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. . .” (Gen. 50:20).

So today dear readers – let’s ask the Lord to help us to love and forgive like He said to; to lay aside every weight that we may be able to endure this walk with Him – giving Him all the glory and being to become all that He created us to be, let us pray:


‘Father, we come to you today in the mighty name of Jesus, giving You Lord all the praise and glory for all You have done in and through each and everyone of us. We thank you for our families, friends, homes, food, clothes, jobs, finances and yes Lord even the bills we have – because we know that You will make a way to help us Lord if we just trust You more. But today Lord, we’re not coming to You for material things; we’re coming to You for help with matters of the heart and mind Lord - the hearts and minds where we have asked You to dwell. We need help Lord, our children need help – the world needs help. You see Lord we have forgotten or maybe most of us were never taught how to forgive and let go and move on. We love you Lord and want more than anything to please and obey You – and You told us to forgive and to love. Anoint every person reading this devotion today with a fresh anointing of Your love and forgiving power – heal every hurt from the past and help us to become all that You Lord created us to be. Move everything out of our minds and hearts that are unlike Your love, forgiveness, peace and divine strength and courage. Forgive us for holding down to other gods – hate, anger, hurt, pain, bitterness, unforgiveness, prejudice, or any other negative emotion that keeps us from keeping our minds on You Lord. Clean the inside of our cups Lord – we desire to be all that You created us to be and in order to do that we know we need a touch from You Jesus. We need a touch of Your love and forgiveness to be the love and forgiveness to and for others. We thank you Lord that You never withhold a good thing from us and we pray that you look past our faults and onto our desires to please and obey You and Help us by Your Holy Spirit to do as You have asked. We praise You Lord for all that You have done – for the miracle of being a God of a million chances – we can’t even imagine a Love as pure as Yours – yet we all desire to have and be this love too. Thank You Lord for hearing us and helping us – in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”


May the Good Lord bless each and every one of you, and may the love, light and forgiving power of Jesus Christ flow from all of us out into a world which needs the love and light of Jesus so much. And remember, He loves you with an everlasting love – Be Blessed - Cherlyn Kelly.