Forgiven
Forgiveness is very real and a huge blessing. I am so thankful for receiving forgiveness many times over for stupid stuff I’ve done or simple mistakes I’ve made. I’ve also been the giver of forgiveness and it relieves me of a burden and can bring healing to my soul. Forgiveness is something I give to someone else and healing happens inside of me!
As I was reading in the book of Ezekiel, the Lord speaks through him to answer a question that was on a lot of people’s minds. Check this out…
19 “‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. 21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. 22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
(Ezekiel 18:19-22,31a NLT)
I’m so thankful that I’m not held responsible for sins of my past. Today has such hope because my past has been erased and forgiven. I can now move forward without the chains of my past holding me back. “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. (Psalm 103:8 NLT)
When the Lord forgave me – He also forgot. I’m not wired in that way – when someone harms me, I never forget. Billy Graham said “Forgiveness is me giving up my right to strike back”. In other words, when I forgive, I give up my right to retaliate against the other person.
I’m so thankful for forgiveness from the Lord.
I’m so thankful for forgiveness for those I’ve hurt.
I’m so thankful for forgiveness that I have given to others.
Forgiveness brings a healing to my soul like nothing else that can be done or said. Forgiveness is also easier said than done. The action of forgiveness is hard, but so worth it. Surrender to the Lord makes me a recipient of His forgiveness and makes me a conduit of forgiveness toward others who’ve harmed me. He forgave me (I hurt Him) so I can forgive others (who have hurt me).
Pressing On!
Dwayne