Forgive...Yourself!

Ah, if only the issue of forgiveness could be this easy and cute!

Forgiveness is one of those topics mentioned a lot; it’s mentioned in healthy spirituality, for productivity and well being. And we spend a lot of time, meditation and energy focusing on the benefits of forgiving another person.

But what about forgiving ourselves?

Now, in early January, a lot of new opportunities and vows have fallen short. Let’s face it, concerning those golden, promising resolutions, we’ve probably already blown it, right?

Now what?

I love this image.

Life doesn’t stop because of imperfections, mistakes, failures and broken resolutions. Move on. Life does.

And God does.

Don’t you think that the all powerful God can handle your imperfect status? Don’t you think that He can and will forgive you? Have you asked Him for forgiveness?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

If not, why not?

If so, why are you still beating yourself up about it?

Pastor Joyce Meyer had great message in which she recounted a conversation with God about her shame and self-flogging over an already forgiven sin. In essence, what God spoke to her was this:

“You know, I’ve already forgiven you. Therefore, it’s really not polite to keep bringing it up.”

Ah, yes, manners! But think about it. God say He separates our sins far, far, far away from us, once we’ve asked for forgiveness:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12

So what is it doing to keep bringing it up, wallowing in it, beating ourselves up about it?

Will doing this make our lives better, in any way, whatsoever?

Nope.

What are you carrying around in your life, even in this new year? Look familiar?

How is that making you feel? Heavy?

Burdened? Hopeless?

With God, there is another way, you know…

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2


Now is as good of a time as any to apply God’s forgiveness to yourself, to forgive yourself of whatever past haunts you.

God is the God over you completely: past, present and future.

Don’t you believe that He can handle you?

Forgive- and free yourself to being bound to bitterness and failure. You were created to rise above it. Forgive and rise up!

Copyright © 2012 by Sheryle Cruse