Accepting Forgiveness

Joyce Meyer
Many believers and non believers struggle with guilt and self condemnation. They're trying to
pay God back for what they did wrong when Jesus already made it right. God's unconditional
love is difficult for people to accept because, in the world, there's always payment for everything
we receive. When it comes right down to it, we just want to be loved unconditionally and
accepted for who we are. We don't want to have to pretend or perform. None of us can earn
God's love. But in order to receive God's love we need to first believe that He loves us.

This Is From A Young Woman Facing Difficulty Accepting Forgiveness

Many years were spent regretting sins from my past. These sins had hurt others and me. Day
after day I would replay my decisions. The sting of my past sins still had a hold on me.
God had forgiven me; Id told Him about my sin and asked Him to forgive me. So why couldnt I
accept the freedom of His forgiveness? I wanted so badly to believe I was the person David
mentions in Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit. Yet I struggled with accepting that Gods grace could erase my
sin, wiping it away as if it never happened.
This can be a hard thing to accept for many of us. It sounds all well and good, but in reality, the
weight of sin makes it difficult to believe a perfect God can forgive us.Yet, His Word assures us
that God does not count our sin against us once we repent and surrender to Him. So how can
we live in this truth?
(1) The first step is to acknowledge our sin: to ourselves and to God. This opens up the door for
honest conversations with the Lord and helps us stop hiding from the fear of being found out.
(2) The next step is to fill our hearts and minds with truth. Throughout the Bible, God teaches
how an unaccepting heart can be changed and softened to accept His forgiveness. The
following verses are truth from a loving God who longs to transform your life through the grace
of His forgiveness.

So What is Grace? The love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have
it, not because of anything we have done to earn it", "
When it comes right down to it, we just want to be loved unconditionally and accepted for who
we are. We don't want to have to pretend or perform. We just want to be accepted and loved.
And God offers that to every single one of us. None of us can earn God's love. But in order to
receive God's love we need to first believe that He loves us.
Say, "If anybody can have God's love, I'm going to have it. If anybody can be free, I'm going to
be free. If anybody can be happy, I'm going to be happy. If anyone can have peace, it's going to
be me. If anybody can be used by God, I can be used by God. If anyone can get over their
broken past, I will."
Don't give in to your emotionsminister to them. Manage them. Remember that every day
you're in Christ, you're a new person!

Choosing A Season of Growth

Another area Christians struggle with is believing God has great plans for their life. Don't trust
your feelings on that either. Trust God's Word.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
It's not easy to say no to yourself and yes to God. But every time you deny your flesh, it gets a
little weaker. People who are strong, serious Christians listen to teachings on pride. They want
to be humble, patient and victorious in Christ, and they train themselves to learn right from
wrong by studying Gods word and putting it into action. Read some in Psalms.
If you know who you are in Christ and you choose to grow, you will have a lot less trouble
fighting guilt and condemnation. As a matter of fact, you will love God and the people He uses
to correct you because they're helping you change and grow. I don't want you to wake up every
day and just live your life based on how you feel. I want you to know that God loves you no
matter what and that you don't have to let feelings dictate the course of your life. I believe you
will see a change in your life if you pray and ask God, Lord God do what you want to do in my
life. Release me from myself. I amYours."
My God doesnt condemn. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
My Master is grace, not sin. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law,
but under grace. Romans 6:14
My Savior Jesus has set me free, therefore I am free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed. John 8:36
My old self is gone; because of Jesus Christ I am new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17
Are you lugging a load of sin that God has already forgiven? Are you ready to stop living in
shame, shackled by regret? Life is too short to exchange the freedom of grace for the bondage
of unbelief.
Today, allow God to wash the hurt and regret from past sins away with the transforming power
of His truth. And lets pray for an accepting heart that lives in the freedom of Gods grace and
forgiveness.
Dear Lord, by faith I accept Your forgiveness and refuse to be a slave to sin any longer. Today, I
confess my sin and will move on! I commit to believe Your transforming truths and to live fully
and freely in Your grace. In Jesus Name, Amen.
http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspxarticle=how_to_embrace_gods_forgiveness