Forgive Yourself
This week we have talked about God forgiving us and us in turn forgiving others. Forgiveness is a process that begins with our decision to let go of the bitterness and resentments that prevent us from living freely in the love, grace, and mercy of God. Today I want to talk about the one person I struggled with the most when it came to forgiving - me.
For many years, I kept a running list of all my faults and failures. Although I did not share it with anyone else, it was always at the front of my mind. My thoughts were constantly focused on this list and this kept me on the merry-go-round of insecurity and defensiveness. I could not understand how people could make mistakes, apologize and carry on. It was a mystery to me.
Jesus patiently walked me through the process of forgiveness showing me the foolishness of holding on to something that God had already let go of. See, I believed that God had forgiven me for all my sins through the blood of Jesus and I did my best not to withhold forgiveness from others but I could not forgive myself.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Luke 6:38 NKJ
Anything that we do for God or others will be given back to us. Although this verse is usually quoted during teachings on giving money, I have found it applies to everything God asks us to do, including forgiving. We have talked all week about how God forgiving us is influenced by how we forgive others but it is also influenced by how we forgive ourselves.
When I was struggling with forgiving myself, I was very critical and judgmental of everyone. People did not like being around me because I carried heavy bags of guilt and condemnation around with me everywhere I went. My lack of self forgiveness kept me separated from not only from other people but from God.
It was during my study on humility that God was finally able to get me to walk through the door of mercy and live freely in His mercy and grace.
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NKJ
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 43:25 NIV
The invitation here to sit and talk with God about what we have done seems daunting but in fact it is the most beautiful part of our relationship with Him. God invites us to spend time with Him irregardless of how we see ourselves. He wants us to come just as we are and be open and honest with Him about the thoughts and intents of our hearts. This is not to punish us but to help us grow closer to Him. Our unforgivenss is a wedge between us and God. Only by letting go of what cannot be changed can we find the intimacy with God that our hearts long for.
When the Bible says there is no more shame and condemnation, God means it. Letting go of our self-unforgiveness comes only when we refuse to pick up what God has let go of.
The Bible reminds us that every person has sinned. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all say and do stupid things without thinking. But the way we handle these moments is crucial to our ability to forgive ourselves.
When I act a fool, I eat humble pie.
Humble pie is not my favorite desert but in acknowledging my actions in a situation and asking for forgiveness, I find that the joy and peace of God will prevent shame and condemnation from hanging around. By the way, I eat a lot of humble pie.
Jesus paid the price for all of my sin. Not just what I have done in the past but all that I have yet to do and He has not done it just for me (although He would have), His sacrifice covered all of yours too. Since we are no longer in debt to sin then we don't need to carry that burden any longer.
Are you still holding on to unforgiveness toward yourself? Talk to God about it and let it go. Forgive yourself. He has.
Heidirn
For many years, I kept a running list of all my faults and failures. Although I did not share it with anyone else, it was always at the front of my mind. My thoughts were constantly focused on this list and this kept me on the merry-go-round of insecurity and defensiveness. I could not understand how people could make mistakes, apologize and carry on. It was a mystery to me.
Jesus patiently walked me through the process of forgiveness showing me the foolishness of holding on to something that God had already let go of. See, I believed that God had forgiven me for all my sins through the blood of Jesus and I did my best not to withhold forgiveness from others but I could not forgive myself.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Luke 6:38 NKJ
Anything that we do for God or others will be given back to us. Although this verse is usually quoted during teachings on giving money, I have found it applies to everything God asks us to do, including forgiving. We have talked all week about how God forgiving us is influenced by how we forgive others but it is also influenced by how we forgive ourselves.
When I was struggling with forgiving myself, I was very critical and judgmental of everyone. People did not like being around me because I carried heavy bags of guilt and condemnation around with me everywhere I went. My lack of self forgiveness kept me separated from not only from other people but from God.
It was during my study on humility that God was finally able to get me to walk through the door of mercy and live freely in His mercy and grace.
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NKJ
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 43:25 NIV
The invitation here to sit and talk with God about what we have done seems daunting but in fact it is the most beautiful part of our relationship with Him. God invites us to spend time with Him irregardless of how we see ourselves. He wants us to come just as we are and be open and honest with Him about the thoughts and intents of our hearts. This is not to punish us but to help us grow closer to Him. Our unforgivenss is a wedge between us and God. Only by letting go of what cannot be changed can we find the intimacy with God that our hearts long for.
When the Bible says there is no more shame and condemnation, God means it. Letting go of our self-unforgiveness comes only when we refuse to pick up what God has let go of.
The Bible reminds us that every person has sinned. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all say and do stupid things without thinking. But the way we handle these moments is crucial to our ability to forgive ourselves.
When I act a fool, I eat humble pie.
Humble pie is not my favorite desert but in acknowledging my actions in a situation and asking for forgiveness, I find that the joy and peace of God will prevent shame and condemnation from hanging around. By the way, I eat a lot of humble pie.
Jesus paid the price for all of my sin. Not just what I have done in the past but all that I have yet to do and He has not done it just for me (although He would have), His sacrifice covered all of yours too. Since we are no longer in debt to sin then we don't need to carry that burden any longer.
Are you still holding on to unforgiveness toward yourself? Talk to God about it and let it go. Forgive yourself. He has.
Heidirn
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