Wednesday, June 1, 2011

THE HARDEST PART

IT IS SO EASY TO EXPRESS TO OTHERS THE CONCEPT AND NEED FOR FORGIVENESS.  WHEN WE APPLY IT TO OUR OWN LIVES, THOUGH, FORGIVENESS IS NOT SO EASY.  ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVING OURSELVES.  MANY PEOPLE WALK AROUND LOOKING TO OTHERS AS IF ALL IS WELL, BUT IN REALITY, THEY ARE CARRYING A HEAVY BURDEN OF GUILT EVERYWHERE THEY GO.  THE BAGGAGE OF GUILT IS A HINDERANCE IN EVERY WAY.  IT ROBS US OF OUR JOY AND PEACE.  WE CANNOT FORGIVE OTHERS UNTIL WE FIRST FORGIVE OURSELVES.  BECAUSE OF GUILT, FORGIVING OURSELVES BECOMES THE HARDEST PART. 
  
FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I DIDNT LIKE MYSELF AT ALL.  THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I HATED TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR, BECAUSE I COULDNT STAND THE PERSON WHO LOOKED BACK AT ME.  I WAS FULL OF GUILT OVER EVERYTHING I HAD DONE TO OTHERS.  I HAD A HABIT OF HURTING PEOPLE AND WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE ENDLESS CYCLE OF GUILT.  THERE WAS NO ROOM IN MY HEART FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS BECAUSE I SIMPLY REFUSED TO FORGIVE MYSELF.  I WAS CAUGHT UP IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL AND MY LIFE WORSENED EVERY DAY. 
  
THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, MY DOWNWARD SPIRAL TOOK AN IMMEDIATE UPSWING.  THROUGH THE CONFESSION OF MY SINS WITH A HONEST HEART, I WAS RELIEVED OF SELF TORMENT.  I HAD TO LAY MY FEELINGS OF SHAME AND GUILT AT THE FEET OF JESUS.   THE LORD TRULY LISTENED TO MY CRIES AND LED ME TO SELF-FORGIVENESS.  THESE DAYS, I AM ABLE TO FORGIVE OTHERS ONLY BECAUSE I BECAME ABLE TO FORGIVE MYSELF.  I CAN NOW LOVE OTHERS.  OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!  WITHOUT HIM, I TRULY AM NOTHING!  I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER NOW THAT HE HAS REMOVED THE YOKE WHICH HAD ME BOUND.  THROUGH HIM ALONE, I AM GUILT FREE.  BY HIS POWER, I AM FORGIVEN!  I CAN NOW EXTEND FORGIVENESS TO OTHERS.  I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL THAT FEELS. 
  
IF YOU ARE A PRISONER OF GUILT AND SHAME, TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE LORD!  HE WILL SET YOU FREE!  IF HE DID IT FOR ME, HE CAN AND HE WILL SURELY DO IT FOR YOU!
  
1 JOHN 1:9  IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
  

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