“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).

How much more plain could that be?

When I am praying, God expects me to forgive.

Otherwise, He won’t forgive me.

And neither will He pay attention to my prayers.

So if I have an unforgiving spirit, why bother praying?

If I do not forgive, I show that I value my grudge more than I value God and my relationship with him.

Forgiving gives me freedom to pray.

Two verses at opposite ends of Mark 10 soothe my heart this morning.

Now if I could remember them through the day. I want their truth to keep my heart at peace.

“And the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again” (1).

In their hunger and thirst, they went again to the One who could meet that need. His teaching gave them what they lacked: truth, hope, and comfort.

At chapter’s end, the blind man (who couldn’t easily resort to Jesus) hears this wonderful news:

“Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee” (49).

Yeah. That’s what I need.