We know, according to Ephesians 1:7-8, that “In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…” (NIV).  This forgiveness spoken of in these verses is the forgiveness that saves us and keeps us in the family of God.  And we rejoice in that forgiveness; and we have peace deep in our soul because of it. 

But there is another kind of forgiveness, the kind that restores our fellowship with God when we sin (1 John 1:6-9).  This is the forgiveness spoken of in the Lord’s Prayer.  It is the forgiveness that believers are to pray for and expect from God, with the condition that we have forgiven others of the things they have done against us.  Without this forgiveness we have no fellowship with fellow believers or with God, nor do we have any power with God in prayer.

So the power we are talking about here is really two fold, the power to forgive others and the power to be forgiven of God; and our forgiveness from God is dependent on our forgiveness of others.  The reason of course as to why we need power to forgive is because it is always hard. We naturally would rather fight against each other and hold on to our rights.  But the problem with that is that we would be giving up our right to be forgiven of God. 

Turn to the Father now for help.  He will give you the power you need to forgive others. Then the power of His forgiveness toward us is automatic; it is what God has already provided for us by His death on the cross as payment for our sins.