How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 15

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 9, Part 4

False Guilt

The devil speaks to us in two ways, and that is by putting thoughts into your head when you are alone and through other people’s comments. Just because they say something does not mean you are to receive it. Recognize it, refuse it, and then rebuke it!

Recognize It:

• When you feel put down or demoralized.

• When you feel depressed.

• When you feel “got at.”

• When you feel there is no positive way forward.

• When you feel you are in bondage.

• The Devil Speaks to us in two ways…

• By putting thoughts in your head when you are alone

• Through other persons comments

Refuse It:

Simply means that you refuse to dwell on the thought the devil puts into your head. The moment you have concluded, “this is the devil, not God,” your next move is to refuse to give any time to the thought.

Rebuke It:

You are never called to go on the offensive in combating Satan, unless it means that you march into His territory to preach the gospel. That is different. We are all called to go into the world to preach the gospel. Furthermore, any obedience to God will offend the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and He will flee from you.

I Peter 5:8-9 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist Him, standing firm in the faith.

You must do this now. Forgive yourself.

Wherever you are, resist the devil by the authority of God’s Word and by the basis that forgiving yourself is precisely the opposite of what Satan wants. 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.

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

Bloom - A Process to Achieve Complete Forgiveness

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How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 14

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 9, Part 3

False Guilt

It does not seem ‘just’ that we get away with our failure so easily. But God says it is just. He uses that very word! In 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

It is for this very reason that we are required to forgive ourselves, because God says so. How can it bless Him, bring Him honor and glory, when He forgives us, but we don’t forgive ourselves? Can you imagine how much that mentality hurts Christ? It’s like saying what He did for us on the cross was not enough. God has given us the gospel, a word that simply means “good news,” that all our sins have been fully paid for with the death of His Son.

Total forgiveness is an offer, and we have not fully accepted the package if we don’t forgive ourselves totally. Yes, it does seem too good to be true. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is too good to be true! God does not want you to feel guilty, but Satan does. Our weapon to overcome will always be the same–the blood of Jesus!

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

Bloom - A Process to Achieve Complete Forgiveness

#bloomprocess

How to Forgive Yourself A Summer Series, Day 13

10 Reasons you should forgive yourself.

Reason 9, Part 2

False Guilt

Don’t place unnecessary guilt on yourself. It is not real guilt–it’s false guilt. The only guilt we should accept should only come from God. If it comes from anyone else, don’t accept it. It’s manipulation, and you should reject it immediately! False guilt comes solely from Satan. Refuse to let anyone give you a guilt trip for your past sins. Don’t let yourself, another person, or Satan keep you from honoring the blood Jesus shed on the cross for your sins. False guilt is exploring a bottomless pit that will lead you to despair. God forgives us more readily than we forgive ourselves. True guilt must be dealt with immediately from sin and offending God. If Christ has forgiven you of your sins, all that’s left is false guilt.

Grief is a deep and intense sorrow. It is very painful, and it takes a long time to get over. Those who find it difficult to forgive themselves most likely have not forgiven others. Regret is the feeling we get when it’s too late before we realize our mistake. It takes no grace to regret, but it does take grace to repent. We are naturally afraid to forgive ourselves because we tell ourselves we are responsible for our past. We often feel that God would surely require us to bear the weight of what we have done. The devil wants us to feel like this because it brings hopelessness. You must recognize his tactics immediately and rebuke him! It does not seem just that we get away with our failure as easy as that. But God says it is just. He uses that very word! In 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Susan Bolinger - Bloom Ladies Ministry

Bloom - A Process to Achieve Complete Forgiveness

#bloomprocess