FORGIVING YOURSELF
Luke 22:54-62Devotional:- “So Peter went out and wept bitterly.bitterly.” (V.62) NKJV
Before a man can begin to enjoy the expressive love of God in his life, he must learn the act of self-forgiveness. Self-condemnation is always a terrible permission for the devil to take over in the life of a believer. This can make him lose his self-worth in God’s presence. It can make a believer lose his authority in Christ. It can make a believer lose his joy and build an environment of sorrow. And you need to know that the environment of sorrow removes from you the presence of God. He only dwells where there is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11). Unforgiveness can make a man build an atmosphere of fear and then permit the presence of demons. This also breeds discouragement and frustration and makes the life of its victim miserable.
The wonderful thing in the scripture we read today is that, though Peter denied Christ publicly and committed a grievous sin, he did not let his life end there. He accepted the promise of God for forgiveness and still fulfilled his destiny as one of the greatest apostles of Christ. This was the fundamental problem of Judas who condemned himself to death (Matthew 27:3-5).
Friend, God’s word made provision for our forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9). You only need to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood. So if you don’t forgive yourself, you are simply disobeying God. He said, "There is no more condemnation for you (Romans 8:1). What did you do that someone has not done before and that God cannot forgive? It is simply an act of doubt and a trick of the devil. Don’t let him destroy your destiny. Don’t continue to remind God what He has forgiven and forgotten. Any time you plead the blood of Jesus, you have put on the greatest eraser of sin (Hebrews 9:14). That is why Jesus said it is finished.
Prayer: Lord, grant me grace to always forgive myself
“HE THAT REFUSES TO ERASE THE SINS GOD HAS ERASED WILL SIMPLY ERASE HIS DESTINY”
