You are probably familiar with the phone commercial on TV which shows a techie testing the phone reception as he stops and says, "Can you hear me now?" Then he takes a few more steps, stops again, and repeats his question, "Can you hear me now?"
In the TV commercial, it's all about clarity of reception and dropped calls. Spiritually, it's about unanswered prayer. The Bible is full of unanswered prayers. The Koran is full of unanswered prayers. The Torah is full of unanswered prayers. The Bagavad Gita is full of … well, you get the picture.
You may even have your share of unanswered prayers. If so, you're not alone. As a matter of fact you're in good company:
Moses prays to enter the Promised Land, but his request is refused, and he dies on Mt. Nebo. Job says, "I cry to Thee, and You do not answer me!" (Job 30:20). King David laments, "…God does not hear me!" (Psalm 66:18)
You may even have asked out of frustration, hurt, or anger, "God, can you hear me now? Are you listening?" Many a grieving parent or widow/widower has asked, "God where are you?"
On Sept. 11th 2001 three hundred million Americans asked, "How could you let this happen God? Where were you? Where are you now?"
Unanswered prayers have one thing in common. James, the brother of Jesus reports Jesus as saying, "You ask, and receive not because … you ask amiss!" (James 4:3)
What does he mean by 'amiss' ? What causes our prayers to go unanswered? Here's the answer! Are you ready? Jesus the Christ said, … are you sure you're ready? … He said, "If we do not forgive others, our prayers will not be answered." (Matt.6:15)
He didn't say – If we fail to forgive others, it will be difficult to get our prayers answered, or that it may take a little longer to get them answered, or that our prayers will be answered anyway because were nice people.
He said if we don't forgive others, our own prayers will not be answered. Seems pretty harsh doesn't it? He's giving us absolutely no wiggle room.
Unity's founder, Charles Fillmore says, "The mind must let go of every unforgiving thought."
Seems pretty clear doesn't it? We pray amiss if we don't forgive. And until we forgive, our prayers will not be answered.
Look into your own heart and forgive anyone and everyone who has ever upset you, disappointed you, wronged you, or harmed you in any way. That may be a tall order for some of you. You may have been significantly wronged, or harmed, or upset by someone. You may feel forgiveness is out of the question.
But if you want your prayers answered, you've got to learn to forgive.
From a metaphysical perspective, forgiveness is a necessary condition for answered prayer. Metaphysically, forgiveness means giving up the false for the true. It means living from our Christ Consciousness instead of our human consciousness.
We cannot walk the spiritual path on unforgiving feet. When we tighten our connection to Spirit by letting to of an unforgiving spirit, we won't have to ask, "Can you hear me now?"
When we eliminate the static of unforgiveness, the reception will be crystal clear.
I'm holding the high watch!
Rev. Donna
