Forgiving Ourselves

Chuckle:  One worker to another: "How long have you been working here?"  Answer: "Since they threatened to fire me." 

 

Good Quote:  "Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude."  --Martin Luther King

 

"Everyone who believes in him (Jesus) will have their sins forgiven through his name"  (Acts 10:43).

 

FORGIVING OURSELVES

 

I believe our ability to forgive ourselves of things in our past is dependent upon our understanding and acceptance of God's forgiveness.  The Bible tells us in many places that God will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us if we believe (trust, have faith) in Jesus Christ. It tells us that our sins will be removed as far as the east is from the west and that they will be remembered against us no more.  Of course we know that this forgiveness is dependent up our confessing our sins and in an attitude of remorse and repentance, asking God to forgive us.  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse (purify) us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

 

Some accept the truth that God forgives the sins of others, but have difficulty believing that God could ever forgive them.  They may say, "I've done some pretty terrible things in my life -- how can God ever forgive me?"  They may feel they don't deserve God's forgiveness.  If you think your sins are just too awful for God to forgive, you will never be able to forgive yourself.  If you cannot accept the fact that God will forgive you, that sense of guilt and shame for your past mistakes/sins will continue to haunt and control your life.  This guilt can take away your peace, joy, and assurance of God's love and the love of others.  You may feel you do not deserve to be loved either by God or by other people.  Such a mind-set can lead to depression, self-pity, and withdrawal from those who love you most. 

 

We must learn to believe God when He promises complete forgiveness regardless of the dimensions of our sin.  You may not feel forgiven, but you must take God at His Word that His forgiveness is complete.  Remember that Jesus paid the penalty for your sins by shedding His precious blood on Calvary's cross.  If you know Christ as Savior and Lord, your sins are covered by His atoning blood sacrifice.  To doubt God's ability, or willingness, to forgive your sins is to put limits on God's power and to belittle His promises.

 

If you know Christ as Savior, "You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault" (Colossians 1:22).  God says, "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it.  I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow" (Isaiah 1:18).  Take God at His word, trust Him, and accept His forgiveness.  Then ask Him to give you the strength to forgive yourself as He has forgiven you.  Accept God's forgiveness and let go of the past -- then your joy will return!

 

Love, Jerry & Dotse