How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 5

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 2, Part 2

Satan doesn’t want you to forgive yourself. He whispers lies into our ears SO MUCH that we begin to BELIEVE him and then WE begin to whisper LIES INTO OUR OWN EARS!!!

• I must pay for my failure.

• What I have done is so horrible that I do not deserve to be set free from guilt.

• It would be irresponsible to forgive myself totally and not look back.

• I must see that I get justice.

That is actually the same “mentality” we have in forgiving others – we want justice and want to see them pay for it. To forgive them sets them free and therefore means they may not get punished. The world does not work the same way as Heaven. The world’s system is to get what you can (selfishness), run over those who get in your way rising to the top (pride), crush those who hurt you and make them pay (revenge) where Jesus tells us to be a servant, show humility and let Him take care of the revenge against those who hurt you. He is a God of justice and He will make those pay for the hurt they have done to you. Trust Him to do that but also remember how much He loves you.

Even if you look at this from the standpoint of a Father and his child… when a child does something wrong, the Father may reprimand the child or even spank the child for the offense to show him his wrong and give him correction. But once that spanking is over, it’s over. The Father does not love the child less, he is trying to train the child up to do the right thing for their own protection. The Father doesn’t keep spanking the child over and over and over. No! He loves that child and our Heavenly Father does even better towards us. He may reprimand or spank you for your sin, but He is doing that to show you correction to keep you safe from the enemy. He loves you more than any one ever could with a perfect love that only He has. Stop believing the lies Satan whispers into your ear and more importantly stop whispering those same lies into your ear. Here are some scriptures that may encourage you to dismiss those lies and do what the Bible tells us to do.

Philippians 4:6-8 ESV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:23 ESV

And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 4

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 2

Satan doesn’t want you to forgive yourself. Why? Because he wants you held in bondage to the past and to your hurts so they will never leave you. He wants you to remain stuck. Then Satan whispers lies into our ears like:

• How can you possibly forgive yourself?

• You are nothing but a failure.

• Who gives you the authority to forgive yourself?

• Just think of all the horrible things you’ve said and done.

• You’ve done too many bad things for God to love you.

• There’s no way He will forgive you.

• You don’t deserve to be forgiven.

• You are not forgiven. That was just an emotional moment.

Satan will always want you held in shackles and chains; therefore, do exactly the OPPOSITE of what he wants you to do. You know you will be in safe territory when you do. If you hear something ‘negative’ in your ear, then it’s Satan talking; and if he is talking, he’s lying!

John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 3

Today I want to begin sharing with you 10 reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 1 - God wants you to forgive.

This is a commandment. It’s a sin against God not to forgive yourself and when you don’t, it steals your peace. R.T. Kendall made a profound statement, “We forgive in proportion to how we love; we withhold forgiveness in proportion to how we hate.” God did not create us to hate ourselves. The most natural thing in the world is to love ourselves. “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:” Ephesians‬ ‭5:29‬ KJV

It is good to know that our failings do not take God by surprise. He not only understands us through and through, but He also knows the end from the beginning. After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus suddenly appeared in a room behind locked doors where the disciples had gathered and were fearful, and feeling very, very guilty. Jesus had a word for them that must have overwhelmed them: John 20:21, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” What? Wait a minute. You mean to tell me after all that happened, that’s all He said to them? No demoralizing, no shaming them, no making them feel guilty. Not a word. Just “peace be with you.” It was as though nothing had happened! Jesus merely picked up where He left off ! And who was the preacher on the day of Pentecost, preaching the opening sermon of the church? Peter! He was a forgiven man. Had Peter not felt forgiven, he would not have been able to stand boldly before thousands of Jews as he did!

The anointing of the Spirit comes on a person like that who is not only forgiven but who has also forgiven himself. Instead of adding salt to your wounds, rubbing your nose in your shame, and making you “pay” with greater guilt for your failure, He says to you, “As the Father sent me, so I’ll send you. Strengthen your brothers and sisters. Teach transgressors my ways.”

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry