Defeat the Beast

The things we have done in the past can seem like a beast breathing heavily on our neck trying to devour us. Our previous choices take the form of a dragon looking to scorch us with reminders of what we have said and done. It may be that the past isn't distant enough for us to feel safe and we may not believe we have truly defeated it. It may also be that we have tried to bury it deeply and panic whenever someone walks over that ground. This beast forged out of our history can seem too overpowering to tame.

There is only one way to slay that creature once and for all and it doesn't come from our strength. We find it through genuine confession and God's forgiveness. Then God releases grace that we have not earned which gives us the weapon we need. He generously covers us with mercy that keeps the enemy at bay even though we deserve defeat. It is a battle that is won and a creature defeated without any effort on our part but surrender.

We need to remind ourselves that the dragon is slain. Our past sins and shame cannot hold us back once God has given us life. Now we can move forward and step confidently over the carcass of our past without fear. God's forgiveness bestows us with the courage to bury the past where it belongs and let that dragon be dead for good.

Forgive Me

My wife & I periodically visit another church on Saturday nights here in town. Their Saturday service is focused on communion and is very liturgical. It's a refreshing addition to our weekend as we can focus together in a more meditative fashion on the practice of communion. I've also been moved by the power of the recitation of meaningful words together with other worshipers. My blog yesterday shared a portion of that experience that resonated deeply with me this past weekend.

There is a portion of the service where we seek forgiveness from God as part of receiving communion. Speaking these words aloud while on your knees in prayer is a moving experience that reminds me of the depth of God's forgiveness that is available if we would only ask. It is one of the most honest prayers I have prayed and a guide for the peace of grace we all seek.

Jesus, forgive my sins.

Forgive the sins that I can remember, and also the sins I have forgotten.

Forgive the wrong actions I have committed, and the right actions I have omitted.

Forgive the times I have been weak in the face of temptation, and those when I have been stubborn in the face of correction.

Forgive the times I have been proud of my own achievements, and those when I have failed to boast of Your works.

Forgive the harsh judgments I have made of others, and the leniency I have shown to myself.

Forgive the lies I have told to others, and the truths I have avoided.

Forgive me the pain I have caused others, and the indulgence I have shown to myself.

Jesus have pity on me, and make me whole.

Done

There are three significantly powerful words that have changed life as we know it. They may not seem like much, but when they are spoken by the right man they are transforming. When they are uttered at the right time in history they signify a shift in the value system of the world. Those words are simply:

It Is Finished.

These were spoken by Christ on the cross at the moment of His death. It is a statement of power and a declaration of the completion of a phase of history. From that point forward our entire concept of religion, forgiveness, and devotion were radically altered. It was a unique moment that delivered present and future impact. The immediate physical task at hand was finished and this part of Christ's journey was complete. He was also declaring to the world that any future charges of sin and guilt for the sin of His people had ended. In three simple words Jesus Christ was dismissive of our sin and the voice of the enemy. 

Perhaps we need to remind ourselves of this simple phrase more often. It contains the hope we are often searching for.

Statute of Limitations

Telling someone to "get over it" doesn't sound like the most kind or helpful advice. Obviously it can sound dismissive in tone and make someone think that you simply don't care about the way that they feel. There is great truth in the principle behind it however. I've learned that sometimes it's healthier to use that philosophy instead of holding on to our emotional wounds.

When we refuse to let things go, we will permanently damage relationships as we become collectors of pain instead of being distributors of mercy. We even do this with small things as they pile up and become collectively more poisonous than they are individually. As harsh as it may sound, we need to learn to let some things go before they destroy our relationships and erode our emotional and spiritual health.

Decide to exercise a statute of limitations and let some things expire that need to die out for the sake of our own survival.

Counting

What do we do when we feel that people have done something to hurt us? Do we take these perceived injustices and hold onto them or do we forgive people and let them go? We can choose to count up each slight and keep a running tally of the wrongs of others or we can choose the path of forgiveness and wipe the slate clean.

The combined weight of those slights (both real and perceived) is too heavy a burden for us to carry. If we let them accumulate, we will cause incredible damage when we unleash it on those close to us. It's far healthier in the long run to practice forgiveness and erase our record of wrongs than to wield unforgiveness as a weapon.

God offers a fresh start to us each day. Can we do no less with others?

Trying to Move On

Has someone ever done something to you that you struggled to forgive them for? I don't think any of us hasn't battled with offering forgiveness at some point. The most difficult forgiveness isn't always offered to others though, but can be what we deny ourselves. In his book, Moving Forward, Everett Worthington shares the intimate details of his own struggle following his brother's suicide. Early in the book he shares this simple truth, "The struggle is with yourself, and much of the work that needs to be done is in understanding your self, the circumstances of your biggest regrets, and the effect of these issues on your daily life."

Everett's painful personal story form the backdrop to this helpful book as he is starkly honest about his struggles with self-forgiveness. It's only in his own recovery that he is able to share true statements that help others overcome the pattern of self-condemnation. He says, " Breaking free from self-condemnation requires first that you become aware of the problem--and once you're aware of it, decide to deal with it." It's an honest and direct approach to an overwhelming problem. His main teaching and therapy principle is based on REACH forgiveness which carries you through five steps: Recall the hurt, Emotional replacement, Altruistic gift of forgiveness, Commit to the forgiveness you experience, Hold on to the forgiveness whenever you doubt you have forgiven. While it may appear to be formulaic it is more practical in terms of psychological and spiritual healing. 

It was difficult to read parts of this book and not because of the poor content. Everett's story of personal struggle with his brother's suicide painted a very real picture of someone who struggled through the very things that he was teaching. This is not an author spouting off theory, but one who had waded through the real battles of practical application. His intimate connection with God enabled him to find real healing and that is the premise of any genuine recovery from this kind of devastation. I recommend slowly reading through his book if this is a personal area of hardship. Meditating on each chapter will give the reader an opportunity to reflect on personal contributions to emotional struggles and find restoration through God's ultimate healing.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Response Time

We will all make mistakes. We often blame it on lapses of judgment, mismanagement of resources, and the words & actions of other people. This doesn't change the fact that we have sinned, but

allows us to assign contributory blame in an effort to assuage our guilt. The evidence still proves that what we have done in the darkness has now been brought into the light and the experience is not always pleasant.

In the aftermath of discovery (and hopefully repentance) we are essentially left with two choices. We can continue to berate ourselves emotionally and verbally for our transgressions or we can humbly accept God's infinite forgiveness and move forward. One path devolves into a cycle of self-pity that debilitates us spiritually, derails us missionally, and neuters us evangelistically. The other (wiser) path creates a catalyst for spiritual transformation through our deep need for God's grace and our unwillingness to settle for anything less than our Father's best. The first path is born out of an overestimation of self while the second gives credence to our desperate need for a perfect, loving, personally invested King.

To stubbornly reject this gift of forgiveness from God is to devalue everything He has done to restore us as His people. Choose wisely.

No More Hold

As I was mowing yesterday (and getting some good meditation in at the same time) I found myself thinking about a song from NewSpring Church called, "Sin Has No More Hold On Me." There is profound power in that title and the implications for life.

I find peace in knowing that Christ offers release from the addictive powers of sin--especially those particular sins that we struggle to escape from. What God offers isn't just freedom from a sin that traps us however, but also a cleansing from sins of the past that threaten to hold us down. When we genuinely confess sin and ask for forgiveness, God cleans us up and sets us back on our feet. He removes the shame & guilt of past sin and provides a brand-new beginning marked by freedom in Christ.

God doesn't just forgive us--He restores us. How relieving is it to know that we can have the oppressive chains of repetitive sin removed as well as the burden of shame and inadequacy lifted?  That's a Father who loves His children unconditionally and wants to make us new.

The Whole Thing

One of my favorite old hymns has always been "It Is Well." The theme of finding peace in God regardless of my circumstances has always appealed to me. It encourages me to put my confidence where it belongs--in something that doesn't fluctuate based on the situation.

The second verse offers hope that surpasses all other promises of peace.

My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise The Lord, praise The Lord, O my soul

I don't think that most people doubt God's ability to heal us of sin, but I do believe we struggle with the idea that He forgives all sin. While we tend to think that one is worse than the other, God simply offers us the sacrifice of His Son to cover every bit of it. He didn't pick apart the things He wanted to offer forgiveness for and leave the rest for us to deal with. God magnanimously took all our transgressions upon Himself and paid the debt for His people. How can we not find peace in all else when God has taken away the worst things we have ever done, thought, or said? 

It is well, it is well
God has won, Christ prevailed
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Behind You

Our present circumstances are a result of our past decisions. There is no way to plausibly deny the influence of our history on our relationships, spiritual state, finances, career, and emotional health. The impact of the past can range from a golden childhood & journey into adulthood to something worthy of a bad TNT movie or after school special. The non-negotiable factor is that we are here today as a result of the combination of choices made by us and those that we come into contact with.

Far too many people stop at this point and quit. They look at their life situation and give up instead of surrendering to a God that can redeem that past. Even followers of Christ can be defeated by thoughts of past sin and wrong choices. This isn't the truth that God wants us to live by and He tells us that while our history has helped to shape & form us it doesn't have to define us. When we choose to commit our lives to Him, He lovingly stands in the gap of our sinful past. He takes our repentance and boldly shines a light on the pathway of restoration & redemption. The cross shouts out in affirmation of His forgiveness, "Behold! I have made all things new!"

Be grateful for the lessons we have learned from the past, but let yourself be defined by the newness of life offered by Christ. The old life no longer holds power over you. Your Father above has released you from it forever and we are no longer sinful, broken creatures, but healed sons and daughters of the King.

New Title

The voice of satan whispers in our ears and reminds us of our past sins. They are lies that attempt to negate the power of forgiveness that has been given to us. If we allow that to dominate our thoughts it can spiritually paralyze us and cause disruption in our mission as Christ-followers. It is a constant in counseling and unfortunately a battle that I face as well.

Even while I torment myself over past sins & the reminders that satan throws in my face, God continues to use me. I need to firmly grasp onto the forgiveness that I have already received and stop doubting. Even if I feel low & disqualified because of sin, the truth is that God has redeemed me.

I cannot surprise God-He knew how I would fall and how much I would need Him. In spite of that, He has positioned me in ministry and put a fire in my heart to serve Him & His Kingdom. He would not have done so if I was no longer able to fulfill His purpose in me.

We all need these reminders of His grace for us. We cannot talk about it or experience it enough and as we share forgiveness and redemption in our own lives, we will see others start to believe in the gift that God offers.

While satan wants us to view ourselves through the lenses of sin and mistakes, God looks at the whole picture of our lives and re-titles it "Grace."

Against God

Recognizing that you have sinned is not comfortable. There is a realization that you have done something (or not done something) that is clearly outside of God's plan for you. The results of our sin can also damage other people around us-family, friends, co-workers, and people in our church. The regret that we feel is often a result of the fallout of those transgressions in our lives. We don't want other people to think badly of us and become focused on seeking forgiveness from those we have wounded. We repeatedly plead with people for their forgiveness, but spend cursory moments asking God to wipe away these blemishes.

True repentance & forgiveness can only begin when we understand that our greatest sin is not against the people in our lives, but against God. While this does not diminish the outcomes in this physical world it does help us gain perspective on our relationship with our King. Any sin in our lives separates us from Him and must be recognized for what it is-a rebellion against the leadership of the Holy Spirit in us. When we genuinely confess our sin to God and become overwhelmed at how we have worked against Him, we begin a transformation process in our hearts. This will lead us into a deeper walk with God that will change us more into His likeness and allow us to eventually overcome the hurt we have caused to those we care about.

Too Far Gone

We don't like for other people to lie to us and yet we believe in the lies that we tell ourselves far too often. These may be the words that echo in our own mind or have been ingrained by those close to us, but we have allowed them to masquerade as truth. It is a common trap that satan uses to paralyze people. These lies attack common areas:

• We haven't communicated in years & our marriage isn't salvageable
• My finances are in such disarray that I will never get out from underneath it
• We have done such a poor job of parenting and now it's too late to do anything about it
• My past relationships define my self-esteem & all my future relationships will suffer from it
• The sins of my past are greater than anyone can ever know-I can't possibly be forgiven for them
• I never lived up to my parents' expectations for me and don't measure up now
• I've made so many mistakes & hurt those around me-I don't think I can change who I am now
• I'm too far gone for God to do anything with me

Grace is a gift from God that is not just intended for forgiveness. It is about His power to negate the lies of satan and change us from the inside out. We refute the effectiveness of grace when we allow ourselves to be enslaved to lies that are in opposition to the truth God freely offers. 

Who Are You Hurting?

Sin is a topic we don't like to talk much about. We prefer to either ignore the things that we are doing, rationalize our behavior or belittle it to assuage our guilt and/or shame. Part of the problem is our understanding of who we are actually affecting with our sinful choices. We tend to think that unless it is a deliberate choice to hurt someone else that it can't be that bad. Looking at porn doesn't impact those around us therefore it isn't a big deal. Being prideful is really about our mindset so it won't truly cause anyone else grief. Cheating on our taxes or on a test doesn't really affect the big picture so it isn't a big deal. A small lie to make ourselves look better won't bother anyone because it's not a fallacy about them.

We have missed the point. Our sin isn't actually against the people around us or even ourselves-although the consequences of our choices can be damaging to both. We have sinned against God and it is our rebellion against Him that causes us the most grief. Even though we know it isn't right to cheat on our spouses, to get drunk every weekend, to gossip about others, to lie, to be divisive in church and to steal, it isn't until we realize that these are transgressions against God and not each other that we stand a chance of true repentance and finding forgiveness and cleansing from Him.

Psalm 51:3-4 "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what was evil in Your sight"

You Are Not

I would like to be able to give credit to the author of this piece*, but I honestly don't recall where I picked it up. I believe it might have been Rick Warren's blog, but I could be wrong. I do know that it encourages me each time I read it and it had an impact on several people at our Sunday services when I read it as well.
You are not your past
You are not your failures
You are not your parents
You are not your sister
You are not your regrets
You are not your sin
You are not your weight
You are not your divorce
You are not your unemployment
You are not the choices someone else makes for you
You are not your brokenness
You are not your bitterness
You are not your abuse
You are not your loneliness
You are not your marital status
You are not your tax bracket
You are not your crisis

This is who you are:

You are loved
You are forgiven
You are redeemed
You are destined
You are set apart
You are a new creation
You are valued
You are gifted
You are chosen
You are prized
You are reconciled
You are called
You are noticed
You are pursued
You are a child of The King
You are a co-heir with Christ
You are a royal priesthood
You are adored, cherished and treasured by the God of this universe.

When you choose to stop living out who you are not and start to live in who you are, it changes everything.

*Thanks to Kristen Brooks for researching and finding the true authors of this entry. You can see the original posting on their blog HERE.