Forgive yourself
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. –1 John 2:1-2
Sometimes it seems that one of the hardest things to do is to forgive ourselves. This is especially true if we transgress after being saved because we can feel like we have let Jesus down. The clarity of our calling comes to mind but is quickly stained with the vision of our sin, and the reality of consequences sets in. How could I have allowed my flesh to corrupt the calling on my life?
Satan is the author of all attacks on your mind and ministry, orchestrating the initial attack in the form of temptation. He then assaults your mind with powerful condemnation, preventing you from coming to Jesus to help. Remember, there is a difference between the burden of condemnation and genuine, heartfelt sorrow and repentance. One tries to lead you deeper into the guilt of your sin, removing the possibility of hope, while the other will wrap its arms of love around you and whisper, “I am here, my child.“
The scripture above reminds us that we should not sin. The Bible does not make provisions for the flesh; we are commanded to live holy just as Jesus does (1 Peter 1:15-16). However, if we should sin, we are not abandoned without hope. There is something special about the repentant heart crying to a loving God who hears your plea and the genuineness in your voice and is compelled to pour out his loving compassion on you. How in these times, we genuinely feel the love of our great king powerfully!
How sweet is the taste of hope when we feel like there is no way out? The deliverance of the mind cannot be described, but once experienced, it causes the heart to draw closer to our great deliverer. The existence of peace amid chaos proves that God is still on the throne, and he cannot be detected with carnal senses. Still, we can see him clearly with our hearts during these times and how his offer of unconditional love and forgiveness penetrates through even the strongest condemnation to show us a glimpse of our loving father.
Sin will affect our calling, but it isn’t permanent. Acknowledge your transgressions and be open with God. Tell him you messed up and you need his forgiveness and restoration. Restate your commitment to him and ask him to teach you and help you to be victorious the next time the tempter comes your way. But above all, Forgive Yourself because what right do you have to hold onto condemnation when Jesus himself is willing to forgive you?
