Forgive Thyself
Forgiveness is not easy. However, according to the Bible, choosing not to forgive is disobedience to God. When we withhold forgiveness we are devaluing Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our forgiveness of sin.
But what about the act of forgiving one’s self? Are we to include ourselves in the forgiving one another that the Apostle Paul writes of in Ephesians 4? When we harbor un-forgiveness in our hearts for ourselves, we are, in essence, claiming that Jesus’ blood is not good enough for us.
That we really do not trust God’s Word.
Why are we so unforgiving towards ourselves? Because if Satan can twist and deceive our thoughts into believing we do not deserve forgiveness from God, then he has succeeded in tearing down the loving bond we have with our Savior.
According to Scripture, when we confess and repent of our wrongdoing, not only has God forgiven our sin, but He has forgotten it. He remembers it no more. Wow! That, my friends, is genuine freedom!
God does not forgive because we forgive. He forgives because He is merciful. When we are forgiven, we are able to pass that forgiveness on to others—including ourselves. Christ’s law of forgiveness states: forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
When we lack forgiveness, we lack Jesus in our hearts. Rather than forgiving, we put our selfish desires above His desires for our lives. The chains of selfishness—guilt, shame, fear, regret, and more—keep us bound to the enemy’s stronghold. God wants us to live a life of freedom in Jesus Christ and to have a joy-filled journey with pure hearts before Him.
Forgiveness—whether forgiving others or forgiving selves—frees us from the past and allows us to fully live in the present. Confessed sins are forgiven sins.
I encourage you to forgive others as God has forgiven you, confess and repent to God of your lack of self-forgiveness, ask for His forgiveness, and truly walk in freedom today.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What unforgiveness are you harboring against yourself?
2. How can you break the bondage of unforgiveness?
3. Is there anyone in your life whom you need to extend forgiveness to?
