forgiveness

"I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him." - C.S. Lewis

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
 Romans 8:1

Hi dear friends.
I read the C.S.Lewis quote earlier today and boy, did it remind me of how mighty God's grace is but also of how unforgiving we can be towards ourselves. There is no room for guilt and shame in the grand vastness of God's amazing love. It was easy to accept God's forgiveness but I couldn't forgive myself. I had allowed walls to build up in my heart, labeled "guilt". Only when I tore those walls down, after many years, did I forgive myself and fully accept and know God's grace for me. It's still a work in progress that the Lord has promised to complete.

As one who struggles with forgiveness, I can write to you and say: forgive yourself. It is the first step to accepting and knowing the fullness of God's grace. If you have the head knowledge of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and grace yet still struggle to love yourself, be merciful towards yourself, forgive yourself and accept God's grace; I urge you today:
tear
the
walls
down.

I don't know what your yesterday looks like. I don't know if you feel so worthless that you doubt God's grace for you. I don't even know if you believe that God can forgive your sins. But one thing I do know, God's unchanging character: [Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 3:13]

God's Grace is FOR YOU! Yes, You!
That's the greatness of God. It doesn't matter how ugly, icky, deep, wrong, dark, vicious, demonic, brutal, psychotic or small your sin may be, it is still sin and God is still God. He will forgive and make grace abound to you. Ask Him today, this very moment, to help you forgive yourself and accept His grace.

Beloved reader, if you were a victim of any wrong doing or violation to you, God's grace is FOR YOU! Yes, You! There is a promise in God's Word that I want you to hold on to, engrave it in your heart and mind: [So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. Joel 2:25] Lord, Your Word says it, we believe it, now do it! Ask Him today, this very moment, to restore what has been taken: your worth and value, to help you forgive the other person(s), to forgive yourself and accept God's grace.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free
and discover that the prisoner was you." -Lewis B. Smedes