How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 8

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 5

Forgiving helps you love others. A possible reason you do not forgive yourself is because you are so disappointed in what you did. Sin is the only thing that brings about self-hatred. It is normal to love yourself, and when you love yourself, it’s easier to love others.

There is a certain level of gratification you receive when you know you have been forgiven and when you know you have forgiven others. You feel “clean, washed in the blood of the Lamb”. That’s such a good feeling and when that weight is no longer there, the freedom that rushes into our soul breathes new life into our hearts and minds. You look at others through a new lens of compassion and love because the Lord extended that to you so graciously.

Your eyes are opened to truly see others and the hurt they are bound in. Your heart gives way to compassion on a level you didn’t have before. Your love for them has increased and now you pray for them, encourage them and lift them up during the storms of their lives. Before you know it, you have birthed a ministry out of the messes of your past.

God is so good. He’s like that you know… to take a bad and horrible situation and turn it around for your good. What you came out of is now the platform for ministry to aid others when you see them going through the same thing you experienced and overcame. Praise the Lord!

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

Bloom - A Process to Achieve Complete Forgiveness

How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 7

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 4

The degree to which you forgive yourself will directly relate to your usefulness in your life.

When I am wallowing in self-pity (victim mentality), I am of little use to others. Not forgiving is paralyzing. It will stop you dead in your tracks. How can you help encourage others when you are consumed with your own failures?

When you are in a state such as this, the enemy has placed cement shoes on you preventing you from moving forward in what God has for you — freedom! If you don’t feel free, then in essence you are bound and when a person is bound, they live in their own prison in their minds. Depression, anxiety, hopelessness and negativity sets in and you live in despair.

When you live like this, it will prevent you from sharing Christ with others successfully. Why would the world want what you have when all they see is that you are in shackles and chains? The Lord cannot use you in the fullness of His will when you CHOOSE to remain bound by the enemy. Let it go! Let it all go and receive His forgiveness so you can forgive others. Freedom awaits you!

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

Bloom - A Process to Achieve Complete Forgiveness

How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 6

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 3

You will receive inner peace and freedom from guilt.

Stop listening to the enemy. There is nothing to compare with the peace and freedom that comes from total forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” There is complete peace and freedom waiting for you when you forgive yourself. You will feel like a bird released from its cage that has been set free. You will wonder how you allowed the enemy to keep you in bondage so long.

I can’t stop thinking about how Peter felt after his betrayal of Christ, how Jesus forgave him. Jesus totally let Peter off the hook. When that moment happened, it released Peter to continue growing in the Lord and he was completely sold out for Christ. It set him free on the level to where just 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, he was in the Upper Room along with 150 others and they were all praying and seeking the Lord. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues. And then it happened… Peter felt a boldness come upon him and he PREACHED the gospel of Jesus Christ and over 3,000 souls were saved that day!!! If he had continued to allow Satan to keep shame, guilt and regret on him, then he would not have felt the freedom Christ gave him. Peter would have never had the courage to boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ like he did and the church would not have been birthed that day if he had stayed in the mentality, “I don’t deserve to be forgiven. I’m just going to sit here in my pity party instead.”

Come on Saints! There is too much work to be done for the Kingdom of God. Embrace the forgiveness Christ gives so freely to every single person and live boldly like Peter!

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry