Daily Prayer Message, Saturday, April 18, 2020
Forgiving Yourself
She sat there on a chair in my office, so overwhelmed, so beside herself, so emotional, she could barely speak. She cried and cried and wouldn’t look at me, staring at the floor, trying desperately to tell me what was wrong. She finally got it out.
Thirty years prior she had failed miserably, violating her marriage and all she knew to be right. For all those years she bore intense guilt and shame. She understood God forgave her, but she couldn’t forgive herself. She wanted to be free from intense self-condemnation.
I explained to her that we are all weak. We all fail. That Abraham, David, Peter and Paul had all failed. God forgave them and if God has forgiven us we must forgive ourselves. When we don’t we give the enemy ground in our lives. He is the accuser. I prayed over her and she left my office feeling free for the first time in a long time.
How about you? Are you burdened with guilt and shame. What in your past troubles you? Then remember what Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Thank God for His forgiveness and then once and for all, forgive yourself. You’ll be free like the birds below.
Saturday’s Prayer Needs…
- Nick, member of Michelle Doherty’s family, seriously ill and taking a turn for the worse
- Wisdom for our leaders when to lift the isolation ban
- People wearing down emotionally over the isolation.
- A wonderful artist in town just diagnosed with breast cancer
- An attendee of our church whose uncle in New York is struggling to live with COVID.
** Thank you for taking a few moments to pray
Saturday’s Scripture: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
May God grace you with a peace that goes beyond comprehension.
Pastor Jay