The Lord has shown me that this week is going to be LIFE-CHANGING for some of you, as you reach out to Him and open your heart to what He has to say about forgiveness in this weeks lessons in The Resolution for Women.
I would like to share some statements about forgiveness from Priscilla, in this section of this book:
- forgiveness of your sins is something that Christ suffered a terrifying death to give you.
- the capacity to forgive yourself is personally impossible. You can’t do it. Nobody can.
- the bible doesn’t tell us to forgive ourselves.
- you know it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing.
- a wounded heart cannot open up either to fully love or receive love.
- forgiveness is a miracle.
- only one power, one invisible force, one miracle can clear away the eroding illness that robs you of peace and love and the enjoyment of life.
- only God can alter your pattern, quicken your step, expand your reach, and get you out of those circles
- forgiveness is designed to rescue you, while bringing with it the added by-product of extending the impact of your grace toward those you love.
“Just as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you must also forgive.”
Colossians 3:13
Forgiveness is something that we must offer others, as He has so wonderfully, abundantly, and outlandishly poured it out on us.
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Your Assignment Today:
On a piece of paper, draw a line down through the center, to make two columns. On the left side, list the names of those you know you need to forgive. On the right side, list the sins you personally have committed. Take that list to Jesus. Sit at His feet today. Speak out each name that you have on your list, and each sin that is listed. Ask the Lord to speak to Your heart about each one, and how you can release them to Him. This may take you all week, but do this every day if you need to. Add to the list each day, if needed. But we are going to have a BURNING CEREMONY at the end of this week, and we are going to take that list and BURN IT at the foot of the cross, as a symbol of our forgiveness for each one, and HIS forgiveness toward our sins.
Let’s Pray:
Father, I lift each person who is reading this blog today. I ask You Lord, as they read this chapter, and this blog, each day this week, that You bring them one step closer to freeing them through the act of forgiveness Lord. Whether it’s an act of forgiveness toward another person, Lord, or through them asking You to forgive them for their own sins. I pray that each persons heart will be prepared and ready to receive from You, Lord. Reach down deep into their hearts. HEAL their brokenness Lord. HEAL the wounds that have kept them in bondage all this time. HEAL the pain they have carried for so long, Lord.
I pray for FREEDOM to come to each person this week, Lord. I pray for the chains to be broken, that have held them captive for so long. I pray for the prison doors to break forth, and each person to step out of that prison that has held them captive to unforgiveness, for so very long, Lord.
I pray for Your healing Lord to come forth. I pray for Your anointing to flow over them, and cover them from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet, Lord! Release them Lord! Release them as they CHOOSE to forgive this week. As they CHOOSE to make forgiveness a priority in their lives, Lord. Forgive them, Lord, for the sins that they themselves have committed, also.
I thank You now, Lord, for the work You are doing in each heart. I thank You for the healing You are bringing forth this week. I thank You in advance for the lives that YOU are changing this week, In Your Precious Name, AMEN!!!
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Now, it’s time to go back to our Facebook OBS Group, and see what Megan has in store for us this week. This week is YOUR week! If you do not belong to one of our Facebook OBS Groups, and would like to, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be happy to add you!
I will be lifting you in prayer this week. I KNOW God is going to set YOU FREE! Expect that from Him, as you read each lesson in this weeks study!
Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Someone Else Today,
Forgiveness is one of the hardest thigs we are called to do but it is also one of the most rewarding and freeing things ever. As Christians, it is the thing that sets us apart. That amazing grace that He has shown us that we are to show others. I pray the Lord shows each of us what we need to work on in this area of our walk with Him. How we can show the rest of the world what He is all about.
Oh you are so right, Tracy!! Forgiveness IS one of the most beautiful GIFTS Jesus has given us!!! I keep thinking that if He can forgive ME for the sins I have committed, and He can cleanse me from all unrighteousness, who am I to say I can't forgive someone else? I truly get that some people have had some pretty horrible things happen to them. But when you think about it, Jesus had some pretty horrible things happen to Him in order to forgive US for our sins, too. Jesus took the scourging, the beatings, the piercing, the mocking, the ridicule, the pain and suffering….all for US to be forgiven. Thank GOD WE don't have to go through the same kind of physical torture to be forgiven!!!! Thank You Jesus!!!!
Already getting teary eyed just reading this. Think this will be another difficult week for me but I know the end result will be amazing. Can hardly wait to see what God does 🙂
Please listen to Joyce Meyer today, as well. It is all about forgiveness and feelings of being forgiven. It is an AWESOME message!!! So often Christians hang on to guilt for their sins, even after they have asked for forgiveness. Jesus died to forgive your sins, and He promises that He will forgive you and cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness. We should not carry the guilt and shame any longer! Whom the Son sets free is indeed. You do not have to PAY for your sin. Jesus already did that on the Cross!! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. God Loves YOU!!!!!
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”[b]
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day,[c] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[d]
17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”[e]
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
Forgiveness is difficult for me in my strength…..I can't do it, but with the Spirit that resides in me I can do it. Sometimes I feel I need to remind God what happened to me and how bad it was/made me feel(like He doesn't know…I'm so silly, I have to laugh at myself). He listens and waits for me to finish. Then He says in a soft voice forgive and I say but….but… His response is just forgive. It's not easy sometimes let me tell ya….I've had some doosies. If I want to be free from the bondage of hurt, pain, and resentment I must forgive sooner than later. Pray for a forgiving heart and for the Lord to remove the memory of the offense. It may not be instantly but know that forgiveness for some is a process and will take time.
A process, for sure. God doesn't offer drive-thru fixes. 🙂
This is going to be tough I already have tears in my eyes. This is something I am not ready to open but I know it has to be done.
Hon, know that we are praying for you to get through this step. God WILL take your hand if you extend it to Him to help you through this. I know this isn't easy…but it is soooooo worth it!!!!! Love you girl.
Thank you Christi!