From Our Father to Amen: The Prayer That Shapes UsSýnishorn

Forgive us our debts

Living the Promise of God’s Forgiveness

“Forgive us our debts…” (Matthew 6:12 NKJV) — these four words are more than a quiet moment in our prayer. They are a cry of the heart, an acknowledgment that we have fallen short, and a sacred opportunity to draw near to our forgiving Father.

When Jesus teaches us to pray this way, He invites us to come honestly—without excuses, without hiding. The word “debts” refers not just to financial obligations, but to our spiritual failures. It’s the unmet duty, the ignored prompt of the Holy Spirit, the kind word left unsaid, the truth we chose not to follow. It’s what we owe God in obedience, holiness, and love—and have not given.

Luke’s Gospel says “forgive us our sins” (Luke 11:4 NKJV), using a different but complementary word. The two together—debts and sins—paint a full picture: we have failed both by doing wrong and by failing to do right. Whether we’ve actively rebelled or passively disobeyed, we stand in need of God’s mercy.

But what grace there is in this request! When we pray, “Forgive us our debts,” we are not groveling before a reluctant judge. We are kneeling before a gracious Father. First John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV). That’s a promise we can cling to.

To confess means to agree with God. It means we stop making excuses and call sin what it is—missing the mark of His holiness. And when we do, He doesn’t just forgive; He sends our sin away. Like the fever that “left” the woman in Matthew 8:15, our sin is gone. Cast away as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Never to be brought up again.

Forgiveness is not just about relief; it’s about relationship. It’s about realigning our hearts with the One who made us, saved us, and loves us still. It’s freedom. It’s restoration. And it’s daily—because our need for grace never ends, and His supply never runs dry.

Today, take time to agree with God. Be specific. Let His Spirit search your heart. And as you lay your debts before Him, receive the joy of a clean heart and a renewed spirit.

He is faithful. He is just. He is your forgiving Father.