Forgive Yourself. God has.

We talk about forgiveness pretty often. We pray for help to forgive those who wrong us, those who hurt us... But I think, and in my experience, it's been harder for me to forgive myself (at times), then it has ever been to forgive someone else.

So often we hold on to our past mistakes, failures, sins, etc and the guilt that comes along it. We've repented and asked for (and been granted) God's forgiveness - yet WE haven't forgiven ourselves.

This morning, a friend and I were discussing this very issue. We realized that forgiving ourselves is an act of FAITH. As I was studying forgiveness online, I came across what I think is a powerful teaching. I am sharing it here with you. It touched MY heart, and I pray it speaks to you, as well. Accept His forgiveness AND forgive yourself. Love you, Sis! Be encouraged.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9

Does the Blood of Jesus mean anything to you?
Those who constantly struggle with guilt and a sense of shame from their past mistakes, are overlooking or underestimating the power of the Blood of Christ. They somehow have this lurking feeling that they aren't truly forgiven of what they've done; that somehow their sin is greater than the Blood of Christ, although they would never openly say such a thing. One key to freedom is to honestly face the facts: do you really believe that your past failures are greater than the Blood of the Son of God, the creator of heaven and earth? Do your failures outweigh the Blood of Jesus, or does the Blood outweigh your failures?

Just how powerful is the precious Blood of Jesus to you? Is it stronger than all your failures? Is it so strong, that it will wipe away even the sins of a cold-blooded murder, such as the one who hung on the cross next to Jesus?
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43

Could the compassion and mercy of Jesus, be so great that it looked past the terrible sin of adultery (which was JUST committed!), and clean her slate in one moment's notice, without hesitation?
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-11

Or do you feel as if your sins are too great for the Holy Blood of the Son of God to remove? How dare we degrade the priceless value of the Blood that the Son of God has shed for us!
If we repent of our sins and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, but yet still feel guilty and wonder if we are forgiven, then my friend, let me assure you that you are grossly underestimating the Holy Blood of the Son of God!
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7,9

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

The Israelites would even commit human sacrifice unto demons (see Psalms 106:38), yet God kept calling out for them to return to Him. God kept crying out to Israel, saying, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings..." (Jeremiah 3:22)
I have a powerful teaching on the Blood of Jesus, and how it is enough to forgive our sins all by itself, without anything added or subtracted from it! For a great teaching on the Blood, check out The Blood is Enough.

God LONGS for the backslider to return to Him!
God created us for fellowship with Him, it grieves His heart when one of His sheep go astray. When a couple are madly in love, and one of them leaves, it can leave a terrible wound in the other person's heart. The same is true when we leave our first love (that is, God - Revelations 2:4). Do you think that God's heart isn't broken when His bride turns her back on Him? God's Word tells us that we are engraved on the palms of His hands (the nails from the cross), and OUR WALLS (which we put up) are continually before Him:
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:15-16

God takes no pleasure in punishing His people, but takes pleasure in giving mercy
God never takes pleasure in punishing or allowing evil to fall upon His people. He is not up there tapping His foot, waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us.
Don't tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you. Joel 2:13 (NLT)

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19

God's Word even tells us that He desires not to even remember our sins, for His sake!
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25

The Bible also tells us that He FREELY justifies (makes innocent) us through the redemption that is through the work of Christ Jesus.
Being justified [made innocent, as if one has never sinned] freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24

God is EXCITED when His lost sheep turn back to Him!
Many who have went astray, feel that if they ever do come back to God, then their relationship with Him would never be the same; that somehow, things would never be the same. Jesus made it very clear that there is great joy in heaven when one of Jesus' sheep that got lost, are found again and have been returned to Him!
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:3-7

In the next few verses, Jesus tells us of how the Father's heart towards us, is similar to a woman who lost a valuable coin, and how she would turn the house upside down to find it. When the lost coin was found, she threw a party to celebrate, and this is like how the Father throws a party for us when we turn back to Him!
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:8-10

And then my favorite parable comes up in Luke 15, which tells the story of the son who went the world's way, and felt he would never be accepted back as a son, but when the father saw his son returning, he ran towards him, hugged him, and threw a huge party for the safe return of his son. This story is similar to God's attitude towards us when we return to Him after going out into the world and messing our lives up by wild living (or whatever other sins we've committed). Look at how this parable is wrapped up though:
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:20-24

The 15th chapter of Luke is not the only place in the Bible where we read of such love, compassion, and forgiveness. God's Word is FULL of examples just like this! Even the OT was rich in examples of God's love and mercy towards those who returned to Him. Look at what God is saying in Isaiah's first chapter:
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:18-19

The entire book of Hosea is a great place to read of God's heart towards those who have rebelled and turned away from Him. He longs for the backslider to return, so that He can clean up the stain of sin, and restore His relationship with them! One verse I like in Hosea tells us:
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4

Meditate on these truths in God's Word
It's great to read a teaching like this, but what really begins to transform your mind, is when you take these sort of scriptures, print them out, and meditate on them. Verbally confess them to yourself! Stick them on your refrigerator!

-this lesson was taken from: GreatBibleStudy.com