There is an innate desire within each of us for justice to be served. When someone harms us or offends us, we quite naturally want to see them punished for their sins. It is perhaps for this reason that Jesus asked us to pray an extremely difficult thing.
Jesus knew we would regularly offend God’s holiness. Our sins and regular disobedience would be in constant need of divine forgiveness. So, each day, we must ask almighty God to forgive us our debts to Him as a result of our sin. But this is the catch: we are to ask God to forgive us in exactly the same measure that we forgive those who sin against us.
But, you say, that’s different! That person hurt my feelings! They lied about me! They opposed my project! They don’t deserve to be forgiven!
But Jesus said, the same measure we forgive others will be the standard God uses to forgive us. Are there people in your life whom you have not forgiven? If there is, then there is no point in asking God’s forgiveness for your sins. You might argue, “Well I have forgiven them, I just want nothing more to do with them!” Fine, but would you like for God to treat you that way?
The truth is, that once you truly understand how amazing and undeserved is God’s forgiveness for you, you will be unable to withhold that same forgiveness from others. Every day, as you pray, remember that the identical degree of forgiveness you are expressing toward others is the same forgiveness you are asking God to demonstrate toward you.