“God, give me wisdom.” Is often my prayer. Prayer for myself, for my husband, prayers for my children…
And to keep it quite simple on this complicated morning, God reminded me of words that I read to my children many years ago, and reminded them over and over again, as the years rolled on, as the years roll on. They are called ‘Words of the Wise’. So I write my perspective as I think of these words, I really suppose they are the hardest to speak of all of the words ever written!
“My child, remember the wise words: remember to say “Please” and remember to say “Thank You”. These words are more powerful than you will ever understand. The next two words will bring a lump in your throat, but they are wise words of the noblest order. Yes, these two words will open doors and break down walls. These two words bring ‘beginning’ to what might have been ‘the end’, these are words that keep you humble, they have power to bring back breath, where all breath is ended:
“I’m sorry.”
But this is not all the words of the wise, no the wisest of all is yet to be given. So take a big breath and prepare yourself for the wisest of words on any literary shelf, they tag to last two words that were shared… take your breath, here they come, the wisest words yet:
“I was wrong.” Now put them together, they spell hope and more hope, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
But I can’t end it there, no, there is just one more expression; this is power, yet so meek, yet this is wisdom that gives opportunity of life-restored. These are the words that bring hope to the end of every last war:
“Will you forgive me?”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong, will you forgive me?”
But, perhaps the wisest, most powerful of all the words yet, perhaps the hardest words to speak, the hardest to actually get out, words that take courage, that set free, that renew – the words, “I forgive, yes, I FORGIVE YOU.”
And God knows just how hard these words can be, in marriages and in friendships and in family, so He writes in His word exhortations and truth: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Matthew 6:14).But just in case we think we have reason to neglect, God adds some more words to His text: “But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15).
Oh my! And God knows that we need a Savior to do this, so, written right after the Lord’s prayer of all things, words we know well as we call “Our Father in heaven…”As we take a moment to look in His face and pray for provision, we must pray for His grace, as we take a most difficult breath, it is true and speak the very next words that shine through: ” Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, deliver us…
for Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever, forever Amen! “(Matthew 6:12-13). We are tempted to give ourselves excuses, but may God remind us His wise words time and again: “Forgive and your Father will also forgive you…” So we pray, yes, we pray, “O Lord, how I desperately need YOU!”
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