Resurrecting a Broken Heart

Releasing the Past... continued :)

During Sunday School last week I shared something that Stormie Omartian wrote in one of her books that struck a chord in me. Stormie wrote, "Jesus' death on the cross means that He took all that we had coming to us, which is death, and in return He gave us all that He had coming to Him, which is eternal life. Receiving Him means being freed from this death grip. However, the bondage that accompanies each sin must have a point of severance through confession."

I think this struck me because, while I know that Jesus has saved me; and I know that He already paid the price for my sins; and I know that He loves me just as I am with all my imperfections... I don't feel worthy of this forgiveness because I never confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness. For me, what Stormie said makes perfect sense. I place myself in bondage by being unable to sever my sins from who I am.

I challenged you to start writing your sins down... all that you can remember. As you write them down, ask for God's forgiveness.

Now... don't go dredging up stuff that isn't significant. We all lied to our parents or blamed a sibling for something we did...

Don't get me wrong. A sin is a sin. But what we are talking about are the sins that are keeping us in bondage. Those are the ones that we need to free ourselves from.

There is a second part to this challenge. This one might be harder. You see, not only do we need to forgive ourselves by confessing and asking for God's forgiveness (which He already has - this is for us, remember?). We need to forgive those who have sinned against us.

Stormie also said, "The first step to forgiving is to receive God's forgiveness and let its reality penetrate the deepest part of our being." You see... the first step of confessing and asking for forgiveness is what is helping me FINALLY receive God's forgiveness. He already forgave me. I'm just having a hard time receiving it.

So now that we are confessing and asking for forgiveness and actually RECEIVING God's forgiveness... we come to the next step, which is forgiving others.

God loves the person who sinned against us as much as He loves us. That may be hard for us to understand at times. God loves all people.

Consider this: God loves the child abuser; He loves the rapist; He loves the thief; He loves the murderer. He hates their abusing, raping, thieving, and murdering as much as He hates my pride, gossiping, and unforgiveness.

Stormie Omartian says, "We may sit and compare our sins to other people's and say, 'Mine aren't so bad,' but God says they all stink so we shouldn't worry about whose smell the worst. The most important thing to remember about forgivenss is that forgiveness doesn't make the other person right; it makes you free."

This is not an easy thing. After 11 years I am still holding on to anger and bitterness towards the man who raped me. But... I have forgiven him. I had to. Holding on to my hatred and refusing to forgive him was hurting me - NOT him. He didn't care. He never will. The fact that I am angry doesn't bother him at all. It only hurts me.

Many years ago I read a quote that I have never forgotten. "Hatred is like an acid. It does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than to the object on which it is poured."

Yes, I have forgiven him. But I still have moments when I think about what happened and I hurt. That's OK too. When this happens I just ask God to help me forgive him completely. It's a process and I am very optimistic about winning this one.

You see... it's not my job to deal with my rapist. It's God's. Once we come to that realization, it truly is easier to move towards forgiveness.

Last thing!

I love this quote from Beth Moore, "We are forgiven, but do not forget because we are wise never to lose sight of where we've been and how God has rescued us."

That's the big finale we are working toward!

Ladies... bring your list of sins with you to Sunday School next week (May 10th) and we are going to break the bondage that they have kept us in and we are going to celebrate all that God has done to break us free... and... all that He is going to do with our new freedom!

Until then remember...

Be filled with the Spirit... singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18)

For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the rightousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Blessed be the Lord... according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise. (1 Kings 8:56)

God love you my sisters... and so do I.

Sweet Blessings,
LeAnn