Forgiving Ourselves
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:40 amForgiving ourselves is essential. I been looking alot into forgiving others but never really thought until the Lord brought it to my mind that it is just as imparative that we forgive ourselves for the things we do. There is a tendency in all of us to hold ourselves more accountable for things we have done than we do others. Perhaps you have been one who can justify forgiving others, even maybe for a heinous crime against you, yet you find no justification for forgiving yourself for an equal or lesser offense. Perhaps you believe that forgiving yourself is not even a consideration because you think you must hold yourself in a state of constant remembrance, lest you forget. Perhaps you believe there is a price, some form of life-long grudge you form against yourself. I know that we do this to ourselves because I to have done this.
Forgiving ourselves is not about forgetting. It is about not bringing the offense up to yourself in negative ways. Forgiving ourselves is simply letting go of what we are holding against ourself so that we can move on with God. If God is able to forgive us and move on, shouldn't we be able to do the same? Philippians 4:9 states that we are to put into practice those things that we have learned from God and from His Word. To continue to go over and over in our thoughts the events of our transgressions totally goes against what scripture says in Philippians 4:8 which tells us to dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Proverbs 16:25 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The energy it takes us to harbor anger, hatred, and resentment towards ourself is exhausting. Every shred of energy we give to negative activities and dwelling on past regrets, robs us of the energy we need to become the person God wants us to be.
Life is full of choices to make and every choice will either take us in a positive direction or rob us of the opportunity that God has in store for us. Forgiving ourselves does not let us off the hook so to speak, it does not justify what we have done, and it is not a sign of our weakness. Forgiveness is a choice that takes courage and strength, and it gives us the opportunity to become an overcomer rather than remaining a victim of our own scorn.
Forgiving ourselves is not about forgetting. It is about not bringing the offense up to yourself in negative ways. Forgiving ourselves is simply letting go of what we are holding against ourself so that we can move on with God. If God is able to forgive us and move on, shouldn't we be able to do the same? Philippians 4:9 states that we are to put into practice those things that we have learned from God and from His Word. To continue to go over and over in our thoughts the events of our transgressions totally goes against what scripture says in Philippians 4:8 which tells us to dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Proverbs 16:25 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The energy it takes us to harbor anger, hatred, and resentment towards ourself is exhausting. Every shred of energy we give to negative activities and dwelling on past regrets, robs us of the energy we need to become the person God wants us to be.
Life is full of choices to make and every choice will either take us in a positive direction or rob us of the opportunity that God has in store for us. Forgiving ourselves does not let us off the hook so to speak, it does not justify what we have done, and it is not a sign of our weakness. Forgiveness is a choice that takes courage and strength, and it gives us the opportunity to become an overcomer rather than remaining a victim of our own scorn.