Forgiveness, Part 3

We have discussed the importance of forgiveness and the consequences of unforgiveness. We forgive out of obedience to God. But how do we forgive ourselves? And how do we forgive God?

Let's start with self. Forgiving self is no different than forgiving others. We just choose to let ourself go free. When we constantly beat up self, we cannot walk in victory and power as we are called to do. How can you let your light shine in this dark world if you are cast down in defeat? You can't. It is humbling to remember that we are not perfect and we will make mistakes.

The devil thrives in the mindset that is condemning. But he is a liar and the father of lies. The Bible says there is NO CONDEMENATION for those who are in Christ. If God doesn't hold it against us, what right do we have to hold it against us? Let's appropriate the full work of the cross to allow ourselves to walk in freedom.

The way we side step the reoccurring thoughts of defeat is to change our thought patterns. Every time you have a thought you create a neuro pathway. It is kind of like a road in your brain. The longer you have a negative, or positive thought, the greater that pathway becomes. Before you know it, it becomes your default thinking. This really gets us to another huge issue about thought patterns, but is very applicable here. We become just as we think. "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Whatever you are holding against yourself, take it to the cross today and leave it there. The price has already been paid in full for your freedom over that area. If God doesn't hold it against you, what right do you have to do so?

Have you ever been so mad at God and just did not understand what He was doing in your life? Forgiving God requires trust. We trust someone when we know their character. Trust comes when we can be confident that they are truly for us and will defend us. I trust my husband to care for me and protect me because he has proven in 26 years that he will always do that. We have history together. The hardest seasons give God the opportunity to demonstrate HIs love for you. It is also an opportunity to prove your love to God by staying faithful to Him regardless if things don't go your way. You gain equity with God, so to speak, during the hardest seasons.

The longer you walk with God, the more you will be able to trust his character. If my husband did not have a set in stone proving ground, it would be difficult to trust that he will always fight for me, no matter what. The tough seasons allow you to grow in that trust in God as you see that He will carry you through any storm that you face.

Forgiving God means that you release your need to understand. You see, God is ALWAYS WORKING in our lives. Do we really believe that? He uses every single thing to bring us closer to Him so that we will bear the same image as Christ. We cannot always understand His ways, because they are so much greater and higher than our ways. We can walk in peace when we come to that realization. Many times I have told him, "Lord, I do not know what you are doing here, but I trust you because you are a good God."

Are you confident that He is a good God?