July 17, 2022
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34.
“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” Psalm 119:45.
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
How often have you heard the statement, “she just needs to forgive herself!” Or,” if he would forgive himself, he would stop verbalizing his past mistakes and living in the past.” There are other situations or examples where self-forgiveness needs to take place. However, usually, we talk about “forgiving oneself in reference to or indicative of a person expressing persistent guilt, remorse over past sins, or the result of negative consequences. Refusing to forgive oneself can precipitate, physical, emotional, and spiritual issues in life not to mention planting the seed of anger, resentment, and other penalties of being disobedient to the Word of God!
One of the greatest travesties of life many people face today is desiring to walk in Freedom and Purpose while living broken lives, bearing the injuries and wounds of their past, and have not forgiven themselves or others. One of the painful realities of life is seeing someone living with the agony of a mistake or failure and unable to walk in the forgiveness and freedom that Christ has already sacrificed for them on the cross.
Talking with my sister Margaret yesterday about some things we desired to be different in our family, was confirmation of what God has told me to do. During our conversation, she was not aware that I was in the process of writing a blog and meditating for this Sunday’s devotional for what was heavy on my heart. God is amazing! Just when I had the nerve to question what God had told me to do, He is so faithful and patient with us He will often move in our lives confirming His Word and His will.
Last week we looked at forgiveness as being the heartbeat of the Christian life as well as our relationships being at the center of God’s heart. Forgiving ourselves and others restores our relationship with God. It is dangerous to willfully and deliberately be out of fellowship with our brother and sisters in Christ. None of us deserved forgiveness, yet God freely forgave us because of His great love for us. We all have fallen short, and God’s desire is for us to be like our heavenly Father and extend that same mercy to others. We must forgive others just as our Father has forgiven us.
There is some GOOD NEWS! Jesus said, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV) HALLELUJAH
Forgiving when you have been wounded is not always an easy thing to do, it is often a process. Forgiving yourself can be equally difficult. Although the Word of God has a lot to say about forgiveness, the concept of forgiving oneself is not specifically addressed. The key to understanding “forgiving yourself” is accepting the forgiveness of God. We all need God and His forgiveness because we have all sinned. When we put our faith in Jesus we are fully forgiven of our sins. We are counted as righteous before God, eternally justified, as noted in Ephesians 1:12-14.
God’s heart’s desire is that His children walk in Freedom and in Their Purpose! The freedom He purchased for us at Calvary. Again, trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord put you in a position to stand firm and walk in your freedom! Being in that position does not mean you immediately have all the tools; it simply means that you have been freed from the bondage of sin and given the power to live for Christ and walk in your purpose.
Forgiveness is a Gift You Give Yourself. It’s a choice you make that allows you to process what happened to you, grieve the situation, and then move forward with your life. Forgiveness frees you from negative attachments and toxic emotions. It clears poison from your system.
Are You Ready To Forgive Yourself? Let’s Do This!
Although Forgiving Yourself is a Choice, it is also a Process. It means:
♥ Acknowledging you need to forgive yourself. It is a choice! Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Joel 2:32
♥ Admitting your own sinfulness and the depths of your depravity. Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but on the magnitude of the forgiver’s love.
♥ Denouncing any idea that your efforts will ever atone for your own sin. God is ready and willing to forgive you.
♥ Accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your sin and Walk In HIS FORGIVENESS.
♥ Receiving and walking in the fullness of God’s grace
♥ Letting go of your own torment against yourself.
♥ Never allow Satan to keep harassing you or anyone else by reminding you of your past. You are forgiven! Forgiveness paves the way for harmonious relationships, even with our enemies.
♥ Be obedient to the Word of God and Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44.
RX: A FORGIVEN 
HEART: What Does It Really Mean To Be Forgiven? Forgiveness means that God looks at us as though we have never sinned. We are blameless before him. You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him, God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. Colossians 1:19-21 (NLT)
It does not matter how deep the stain of your sins, you have been made clean as freshly fallen snow. You are free from the slavery of sin and cannot be held captive by sin!
Forgiveness brings great joy. Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Romans 4:7
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross. Because you gave Your life for us, we accept Your gift of forgiveness and we do not have to be reminded of our sins. Thank You, Father, we no longer have to be harassed by Satan or anyone else! We can simply walk in the forgiveness You have already provided for us, in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!