Forgiveness, Part 2

Part of our struggle is forgiving those who have hurt us in the past. An entirely different journey involves forgiving ourselves. Have you ever heard the phrase, "You are your own worst critic?" I think that is more profound than we are willing to admit. The reality is that our inner monologues are full of our shortcomings. We beat ourselves up. We rehash our mistakes. How many of us allow our self-image to be defined by the most negative of our thoughts? I don't think these thoughts are the truest expression of who you are, and neither does God.

God does not hold you in contempt. Jesus tells us that he didn't come into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world. What right do you have to hold yourself in contempt? The Creator of the universe has made a way for us all to be forgiven, but we are unwilling to accept that forgiveness in our hearts. Part of our journey into wholeness is in the ability to forgive ourselves for our mistakes.

Do we make mistakes? Yes. Do we come up short in life? Of course. But God came to change all of that. The incredible truth is that God died so we could be different at our core. Paul says we are new creations in Jesus. Have you experienced this radical transformation? It is only found in Jesus, and He offers the gift freely. All we have to do is accept and believe.

Let yourself off the hook. God already has made the way for your forgiveness, and we all need to accept and embrace that love.

Forgiveness, Part 1

One of the keys to living the life God wants you to live is in knowing the power of forgiveness. You must learn to let other people off the hook for wrongs they have committed against you. Too many times people allow themselves to become bitter because of what they have suffered in life. They see the way they have been treated and they resent the world for the abuse they have suffered. If you find yourself in that situation today, you are keeping yourself from truly experiencing anything positive in life. You will become more and more bitter, and any sense of hope you have will rapidly shrink and eventually disappear entirely.

Most people do not want to live in bitterness and despair. Being unhappy is not anyone's original goal or ambition in life, but many people hold on to their bitterness instead of forgiving those who have hurt them. If you want hope in your life, you won't find it as long as you look in your past at wrongs you have suffered. You can only have hope when you look to the future and release the past. You can only truly look forward and release the past after you have forgiven those who have harmed you.

Give up your right to hold a grudge and to be angry. Practice forgiveness.