Friday, September 25, 2020

Live Forgiven

God is teaching me to live like I’m forgiven.

 

I recently read a book by Max Lucado in which he said because of Calvary, we can make choices. He reminded me that I can choose to live forgiven.

 

I struggle to leave behind the things I did in the past. I sorrow over them. How can I share with others the joy of god’s mercy this way?

 

I have begged for forgiveness, and God promises to forgive. This is a promise I can accept.

 

1 John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

 

God’s Word commands us to forget the past so He can do something new and wonderful in our lives.

 

Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

 

Philippians 3:13-14:

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

I can’t forget my sins, but God promises that He has.

 

Isaiah 43:25:

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

 

Psalm 103: 12: 

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

This is a battle against Satan which God yearns to help me win.

 

1 Peter 5:8:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

Psalm 51 is such a comfort to me.

 

David committed adultery, then tried to cover it up by committing murder. He and his wife had to suffer the loss of a child through all of this.

 

But David didn’t give up. In Psalm 51, he writhes over sin he has committed. He pleads for God’s help, His forgiveness, and to have the joy of his salvation restored.

 

Psalm 51:1, 12-13, 17:

 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

 

David knew that God would accept the plea of a truly repentant heart. And he knew that forgiveness was the best motivation for him to share God’s love with others.

 

And what wonderful grace God shows David.

 

Acts 13:22:

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

 

Father, I pray for the trust of David. Help me to accept Your mercy and joyfully share Your love with those around me.                 

10 comments:

  1. Amen, Kathy! Psalm 103:12 is my favorite on this subject. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Patti. Psalm 103 is also one of my favorites.:)

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  2. Thank you for this post, Kathy! True forgiveness is something, this side of Heaven, we cannot grasp! At least I can't! Why would a perfect God forgive a wretch like me? So thankful for so many examples where God DID forgive and made something beautiful from some man would call "the worst." :)

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    1. You're right; it is so hard to understand. I am also glad there are so many stories in the Bible to show God does forgive.

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  3. "...Neither do I condemn thee. Go in peace."

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  4. When people hurt you, it is hard to forgive. At first, anyway. But when you think of all the things we've done that our Lord has forgiven, it shows us an idea of how great his capacity for forgiveness is. How can we ever do that? The best way I've found is to pray for whomever needs the forgiveness first. After that, forgiveness comes easier. Maybe it's a softening of the heart. Grace has a softer place to grow when you pray.

    Thank you, Kathy.

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  5. Thank you, Kathy, for this timely reminder!

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