Prayer for Godly Forgetfulness
In life we gather memories which are not always useful to us. They may have been, but they have now passed their “use by” date. We may have been counselling people, and our heads swim with the memories of the confidentialities given to us, of sins repented of, in our presence. Instead of seeing the joyful face of a saved and forgiven child of God, are we seeing instead their sins, as they approach us to shake our hand as they gladly meet us?
Are these memories holding us back? Is the enemy waking us in the middle of the night to trawl up old memories or confidentialities and use them to disrupt our present life? Are we distracted from the work for today, by the forgiven sins of others from days long past, which have never had a bearing on our lives?
The LORD has a solution in His Word.
In Genesis Chapter 41:51 & 52, we read the following:
“And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh, saying, ‘For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house’. And the name of the second he called Ephraim, saying, For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
We need to look at this in prophetic language and understand what is being said. Joseph had a son and called him Manasseh which means “God has made me forget”; this allowed him to forget all the years of toil in his life. He called his second son Ephraim, which means “doubly fruitful”.
In other words, if we want to become “doubly fruitful,” we need to first forget the past!
This is a gift which the LORD can give us if we but ask. We may ask the LORD that he grants us the same gift of Manasseh He granted Joseph – the same “Godly Forgetfulness”. That He will take away these memories which are not useful for us any more, that we may move on and become, more like Ephraim like, being doubly fruitful.
Heavenly Father,
I come before you with my hands open and my head bowed. I acknowledge you for who you are, the LORD of LORD, the King of King, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the father of my Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ.
Father, as I enter your presence I ask for your forgiveness of all the sins I have committed and continue to commit, knowingly and unknowingly, intentionally and unintentionally. Help me LORD, to learn and stop repeating them. Correct me LORD, that I may be more like your Son.
Father, I recognise that there are memories of my past which are getting in the way for my life today. These memories are no longer useful to me.
I come before You as Your child and ask that You will grant me Your gift of Manasseh, your gift of Godly Forgetfulness.
I pray that you will clear from my mind and memory, all past memories which are no longer necessary to me or which are now distracting me.
I declare my full trust in You and I offer my body as a living sacrifice before You, and ask You LORD, to please lead my life.
I willingly give You my body and my will, that You may use me for the glory of Your Kingdom. Lead me LORD, to fulfill my destiny; that which You destined for me at the beginning of time.
I thank you LORD God for all You have done in my life, all You are doing and all You will do.
In the mighty name of Your Son, my Saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth I pray.
Amen and Amen.
Angus, I just came back to print out this powerful word from you that we all have need of, especially is this time of great deception. Thank you for sharing. I had lost my copy but now it will be in my prayer files forever as it is written on my heart. Much gratitude for all you do, many prayers to you and yours, many blessings from the Lord to you with much love and peace, Sandi
Dear Sandi,
Thank you for your kind confirmation.
This was a good teaching I received a long time ago and was pleased to pass on and add to.
Blessings,
Angus