It's
been in my heart all week to speak about forgiveness; but not in a typical way.
I think that sometimes when we sin and we ask God for forgiveness and we
repent, and like the great Father that He is, He forgives us. But sometimes WE
struggle. We know that we've been forgiven but we can't forgive ourselves and
we live in a pool of pity and shame. We take accountability to a whole other
level. It’s as if we can't accept the forgiveness that has been given to us.
Personally, I've gone through this cycle; and it’s one that really gets you
nowhere. It hinders you back from Gods purpose for your life and it makes you
see life through a cracked lens. It says in 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
If
God can still forgive us, cleanse us, accept us AND love us. Why is it so hard
for us to forgive ourselves? It says it clearly in the word that if you truly
ask for forgiveness, God forgives you in a heartbeat and without question. But
we struggle in the sense that we aren't good enough, and that if you really
were a Christian you wouldn't have made the mistake in the first place. Here’s
where a lot of people; myself included have messed up. We start to believe that
being a follower of Christ means we won’t fall and stumble on our feet. We
will. We will stumble, fall, have failures and sin but we are still forgiven no
matter how messy your mistakes or thoughts may be. Stop believing the lies of
the enemy. He is the accuser and he wants to keep you away from Gods purpose
for your life. You are forgiven.
“The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
If the enemy can keep you doubting for a second longer he's happy because his overall
goal is to steal from you. Steal your happiness, your peace. As soon as you
begin to think this way about yourself, just pray to God and ask Him to reveal
to you His love for you. In that love lies His forgiveness and mercy and in the
messiest times of your life is when His grace is the most present.
“What
do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will
he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that
wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that
one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same
way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should
perish.” Mathew 18:12
He
is happier about that one sheep than the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
We all wander off either it be in sin, or doubts but when we ask for true
forgiveness, Jesus, our shepherd is right there happier than ever, ready to receive
you. Now I'm not saying to take advantage of God’s grace and use it as a license
to sin. That's the worst thing you could possibly do. Look at Romans 6:15
and tell me that it isn't clear.
"What
then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no
means!"
What
I want is for people to become aware of Gods goodness. He will forgive you as
long as you ask Him to, and that you really turn away from what is causing you
to stumble. Understand that you are only human and you will make mistakes. What
makes you or breaks you is how you react once you've fallen. Will you
pick yourself up and push even harder? Or will you stay down and listen to the
lies of the enemy, who's only goal is to keep you down? Always remember that
the Lord is your strength and refuge. You are loved beyond your mistakes.
Forgive yourself because your Creator doesn’t even remember the mistakes you’ve
made. Not forgiving yourself is like denying the sacrifice Jesus made for you
at the cross. He already knew you were going to stumble and be messy, and He
still decided to die for you. By not forgiving yourself you are denying the
greatest gift of all.It's time to forgive yourself.
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new."
2
Corinthians 5:17
♥With love ~ Michelle♥
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