When we pray “forgive us our debts,” we’re saying, “Lord, help us to see the enormity of your forgiveness.” God didn’t just wave a magic wand in the air to forgive us. Jesus had to go through the agony of the cross, the horror of God’s wrath, and the soul-crushing loneliness of his heavenly father turning his back on him and abandoning him.

God loves to stand up for justice and defend the weak.

Can you think of a time when you really wanted something, and you didn’t get it? And looking back now, you think, “Phew! I dodged a bullet on that one!”

God doesn’t say “stay away.” He says “Come all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

So you want to make a difference in the world, but you don’t feel like you have a spare minute in your schedule to add anything. What are you supposed to do? Jesus gave us a great suggestion: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you” (Luke 14:12-14).

What energizes you? What gets you out of the bed in the morning? What keeps you going all day? What keeps you moving forward in life? As a certain energy drink company would ask the question, what gives you wings?

Paul says in Romans 12:1, “In light of the mercies of God … present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” In other words, “Considering all that God has already given you, ask yourself what can you give to him and to the people around you.” But how do we know we’re serving in the right way? How do we know we’re giving effectively? How do we know we’re really blessing the world, not just spinning our wheels?

When’s the last time you thought about breathing? You instinctively take in oxygen, because there’s always an abundant supply of air all around you. In the same way, God’s wisdom is always available to us through the presence of his Holy Spirit.

Your husband made a big purchase without discussing it with you first. Your friend was talking about you behind your back. Your ministry teammate flaked on a big commitment. Again. How will you respond?