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Step 3: Forgive





“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
~John 19:30 NLT



Do you ever have a problem forgiving others?  Do you have a problem with forgiving yourself?  Yeah…hand raised over here…I do.  I find that I say I forgive others but then I can bring that past offense up in a heated moment faster than I can blink.  Sometimes I think, “Wow…where did that come from?”  But what is really hard for me – is to forgive myself and leave it there.  

Why is it so hard to forgive ourselves?  Why is it that we think what Jesus did on the cross is for others but not for us?

I think in order for my heart to change – I need to forgive myself and allow God to work in me.  



 

One thing I do know is that all of my life experiences are used to shape me.  All those bad choices are going to be used for His glory.  My mess is always used for a message that He wants me to share - a message that points to Him.  

In Step 1, I talked about Letting Go and Letting God.  And in order to let go of the weight of not forgiving myself – I need to know deep in my soul that Jesus paid it all.  To repent and to forgive myself is the only way I can move forward.  I can’t move very well if I’m carrying that weight. 

God is way bigger than my sin.   



This week, if you are like me and are having a hard time forgiving yourself, try this activity.  First, pray to God and confess it.  Ask Him to help you leave it at the cross.  Write it on a slip of paper and tear it up – or write it on a rock and toss it in a lake. 


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

Jesus carried our sins on His back.  He paid the ultimate price for us.  To continue to lug around the weight and guilt of our sin is to cheapen what He did.  Believe Him when He says, “It is finished.”


Memory Verse: “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.” ~John 19:30 NLT

Break free – drop the weight – It Is Finished!

Roses and Thorns:  At the end of each day continue to write out a rose and a thorn...maybe on how you handled forgiveness for that day.  

 
 

 

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