I heard from a speaker recently about how to experience God's love and forgiveness. He talked about how we can feel freedom in Christ. Coming to grips with your sin is hard, but is the first step to feeling the freedom of forgiveness. To feel this freedom, that has already been given, we must first confess our sins. The speaker suggested processing with the Lord what sins you currently struggle with and listing them off. This helps you process and admit your wrongdoings. If you were to stop there though, you would feel worse than you did before. So you must, then, recognize that all of those things are forgiven and repent of them. Repentance is the act of turning away from something and turning to God. It's like you are running straight toward something and then decide to make a 180 degree turn. I got the chance to do this whole process earlier today:
- I desire evil- I murder people with my thoughts. I want people to feel how I feel when I'm hurting.
- I covet and commit idolatry- I want things that someone else has-a character trait, a friendship, attention, clothes, good circumstances. I am jealous.
- I want people to do things the way I think is right.
- I like to think my ways are better than God's.
- I want to be liked, loved, and desired, and will do whatever it takes to try to achieve that.
- I turn to the attention of others to feel desired.
- I judge people.
- I gossip.
- I think people are doing less "good" than I am.
- I am self-righteous.
- I am too comfortable, yet not content.
- I am ungrateful.
- I think I am pretty awesome.
- I have too high of expectations of people.
- I sometimes admire people more than God.
- I want everyone around me to meet my needs.
- I think the my "good deeds" are better than they are and are going to "win" me God's love.
- I compare myself to others because I want. I compare because I am not secure in who I am.
- I am often not quick to forgive.
Wow. What a list. I know there are plenty more. So what did I do with this? I wrote "1 John 1:9" in bold over this list.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."- 1 John 1:9
Yes. Confession. If we are holding onto our sin without confessing it, it can feel like a heavy weight holding us down. God doesn't want us to deal with that. He forgives us regardless, but by confession, we are able to experience it and move forward from there. God's love, grace, are forgiveness are incredible.
I've been pondering the story of the prodigal son. It's a story of a father with 2 sons who divided his property between them. The younger son quickly spent everything and was in need again. The story picks up with this:
"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly, the best robe, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was alive and is found.' And they began to celebrate."- Luke 15:17-24
The father RAN to his son. He greeted him with arms wide open and embraced him. They celebrated his return and gave him things that he didn't deserve. The son was unworthy because of the wrong he had done. This is how our Heavenly Father treats us. We are unworthy, yet He loves us and embraces us with arms wide open. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. He is such a great pursuer. His love is completely unconditional. What a faithful God!
