A dear one sent me a small brochure in the mail the other day by Mart De Haan.
The paper version was entitled Beating Ourselves Up.
Does that ring a bell with you? I remember that when my boys were youngsters . ..it was easier to deal with a small offense against them by a young friend than if they were the offender. It was simple to encourage them to forgive but I always felt so bad if they had been the offender.
Do you ever find it easier to forgive someone else than it is to forgive yourself? I have found that I am eager to punish myself and often feel tempted to confess my sin to another long after I have done my part ask for forgiveness and tried to make amends. I do believe that God forgives me but when I hurt others . . I feel the need to drag it around with me because I feel I deserve to suffer.
A verse De Haan quoted from the Bible brought tears to my eyes.
"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything"
( 1 John 3:19-20 NIV)
Do you see? God does see everything clearly. He sees what we do wrong . ..and he sees our deep acknowledged regret .. and he knows better than us the price that was "paid to release us from that sin. He sees the trust we have put in His Son. He sees the good work He has started in our hearts". . .which he has promised to finish.
Isn't that just wonderful?
Later in the article he says . .
"We may be limiting our ability to be what God wants us to be. Refusing to forgive ourselves as God has forgiven us does nothing but prolong and multiply our sin. Self-condemnation is the opposite of the gratitude that opens our hearts to God."
I don't want to be robbed of a joyful heart.
I want to live in freedom of forgiveness and I want to use my time to Praise my loving Heavenly Father.
Take heart dear ones . . .
"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust"
(Psalm 103:10-14 NKJV)
I'll remain thankful for my beloved husband that patiently listens to me relive my transgressions but I'll choose to be obedient in this areas that God has laid on my heart this week.
Gratitude for forgiveness.
all for now. . .
Thank you. The verse from 1 John really spoke to my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me, you are so right, we need to remember to forgive ourselfs also.
ReplyDeleteThank you for making me pause and look more closely at the meaning of these verses.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post. I try to remember when I have failed, which happens all too often, that Christ died for all the sins I'd ever commit and that He has already done the work of forgiving me and I will not crucify Him again for each new thing that comes up. I will instead thank Him and try to make things right with the person who has been offended or hurt by my actions. Otherwise we do continue to beat ourselves up.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful scriptures you chose for this one. I am taking special note of them.
Good thoughts, Lovella.
ReplyDeleteIt really does make a big difference when we realize that what we call "not forgiving ourselves" is really saying ... "God, I'm not ready to accept your gift of forgiveness."
I'm so thankful His forgiveness is free for the asking heart!
Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThis today was exactly what I need to hear. I love the scriptures that you posted today. I think forgiving ourselves is one of the hardest things we are ever asked to do.
ReplyDeleteWell said...I'm not sure how often I've caught myself thinking like that...The Bible is so full of positive reinforcements to guide us along our journey...
ReplyDeleteLet's beat each other up in LOVE!
Wonderful post! The old saying 'forgive and forget'. That is sure easier said then done. How do we cross over to the forget part? I think I have come to realize more and more that I have to dwell on the things of God and fill my mind with His truths and and allow love to overflow from that. Psalms 103 talks of God's mercy, I John....set our hearts at rest. I like that. This week I will make a conscious effort to give thanks for the gift of forgiveness....and also ask God to help me to have a heart of rest where I beat myself up.
ReplyDeleteI recently received that pamphlet along with my monthly Daily Bread, and was so struck by the message that I read it twice. This sentence especially stood out to me: "Every day of self-absorbed self-condemnation is a day spent robbing ourselves of the joy of a grateful heart." I don't want to miss out on the joy of the day(s)God gives to me!
ReplyDeleteWonderful scripture passages for today...and timely thoughts. Forgive and forget...easier said than done. Especially when we are the ones who have erred...and need to put the matter behind us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing what God is teaching you. It was something that obviously a lot of us needed to be reminded of. I try to pick one verse each week to spend more time meditating on. This will be the one for this week. (PS - thank you for your honesty, and the very practical way you expressed how you want to use this lesson in the coming days)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you and Elaine read the same article. I love the thoughts about putting our hearts at rest because God, who knows us so well, loves us and has forgiven us... so we should too. Self absorbed condemnation only hinders us from being truly grateful. It makes us feel like we are paying for our sin, when Jesus already did that. I do not need to drag my burdens on my back any longer. May my gratefulness show.
ReplyDeleteA friend and I spoke of just this this past weekend. If God loves us - and forgives us why is it so hard to love and forgive ourselves? So many of us need this reminder. Thank you Lovella.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that post..I really needed that reminder today. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings from Kentucky...
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSonya
A good word Lovella! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lovella. Your words were so timely.
ReplyDeleteShirley
thank you for your thoughts. Enjoy your day - for This is the day the Lord has made:)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the post and thank God for being such a forgiving God...He is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI've been following this recipe blog for a very long time now and am a HUGE fan but have not yet left a comment. Than today I stumbled upon this "Bread for the Journey" and it really hit home. Thanx for the reminder that Jesus loves me even when I don't love myself.
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