We're to forgive others seven times seventy times, but what about ourselves?
This is Felicia Ferguson with Christian Mix 106, helping you build faith for the journey.
Shame and regret are what we call in the South, kissing cousins. Meaning they are closely related to each other. But shame and regret really aren’t relations you want to keep. However, there is something that eradicates them both: forgiveness.
I’m sure you’ve heard the verse about forgiving someone who has hurt you seven times seventy times. But have you ever thought about applying that directive to yourself? We live not only in judgment of others who have wronged us but also in judgment of ourselves and our behavior. We hold on to our past actions and behaviors and condemn ourselves through shame and regret.
When we forgive others, who do we set free? Us. In the same way we can give ourselves freedom from our shame and regret by forgiving ourselves of our own past mistakes. It may sound silly, or even too simple, but I can assure from my own experience it is also freeing.
Holding onto your shame and regret is as life-taking as holding on to unforgiveness for another person. And the damage to you is the same. So if you’ve confessed your failings, your sin and received forgiveness from Jesus, why not take the next step and release yourself?
How do I do that, you might ask. Very simply. Tell yourself, “I forgive myself for ….” And then insert whatever is clawing at your heart and grieving your spirit. You can even put your name in there instead of saying myself. It might sound odd, but hear me out. In some cases, it’s actually a different you who took the actions or said the words that you feel shamed by or regret. That you was an unsaved, unredeemed version of yourself. And yet those actions are still bags you carry around despite being a new creation in Christ.
Take the opportunity today to search your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to search you as well. Find those places of shame and regret and forgive yourself for those words or actions. Then praise God for his mercy and grace, celebrate your latest freedom in him, and kiss shame and regret goodbye.
This is Felicia Ferguson. Thanks for listening to Christian Mix 106.