God Forgives, So Can You!

God tells us to forgive others as He forgives us. “Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

To forgive someone of a wrong is to obey what God commands us to do. In order to obey God we must be in a relationship with Him. David writes in Psalm 63, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you, I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” Psalm 63:1. God created man to have a relationship with. He would walk in the garden with Adam and Eve. He wants us to seek Him. He is always there for us to find

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From the beginning He had plans to redeem us from the fall. That plan was fulfilled in the birth, death, and resurrection of His, Son, Jesus. In order to receive forgiveness, we choose to Trust in God, Believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and confess that we are sinners. Once we ask for forgiveness, God forgive us. He extends us His grace. Although it is undeserved He gives it to us because He loves us.  “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only son into the world that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10.

By not forgiving others or even ourselves we are disobeying God and we also call Him a liar. He tells us to confess our sins, and He will forgive us. We have to trust and believe Him. We do this through faith in Him. Forgiving others and ourselves is not easy, that is why choosing to depend on God and use His strength to forgive is always better than going it alone. When we totally trust Him and allow Him to provide for us, give us strength, and Love for us. Then and only then will we realize the Joy and happiness he has for us.

We must first seek Him, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33, and realize we are “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), and truly trust Him and he will take control and provide for us. Through Him we will be able to forgive and continue growing towards Christ. We must live in the light with jesus and not hide form Him in the dark as Adam and Eve did when they realized that they had done. By confessing to Christ and those we have hurt. God can and will take this and turn it into good. “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us form all in righteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

If you are having trouble forgiving someone or yourself, remember God is the one who forgives. He forgives us and does not have to forgive you again for that particular event. You must trust and move on in your life towards His purpose for you. Hanging onto guilt or not forgiving those you have offended only hurts you, causing you to disobey God and continue in sin and in a life of bitterness,. Reach out to God; He has so much to offer you!