Forgiveness

“Jesus… in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:14 

Have you ever done something for which you feel terrible? Something that causes you to hang your head in shame and that weighs heavy on your heart? Something that you can’t get out of your mind? Take a deep breath, friend. The word “forgiven” wasn’t just for the adulterous woman or thief on the cross. Jesus speaks those words to you and me. “Forgiveness” means “release from bondage or imprisonment, pardon for sins.” What a beautiful word. Would you say the definition aloud and personalize it? “I’m released from the bondage and imprisonment of my sins. I’m pardoned. Totally.” Once and for all, when we turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He forgives us of our sin for eternity. Daily, moment by moment, when we fail to live to live according to His Word and we turn to Him in repentance, He washes and restores us to Himself. FORGIVEN. Wear the word proudly across your chest. FORGIVEN. Wear the word humbly through your day.

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me; for releasing me from the bondage and imprisonment of my sin. Thank You for pardoning me.  I love You and praise You!

 from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Psalm 32:7

David had been confused. He had thought he could hide his sin from God. But the guilt ate him up. Listen to his words: “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; …You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” We might on occasion be like David. We might think we need to hide our sin from God when, in fact, we need to get it out and in the open with God. If we’re in a spot of hiding from God today, He invites us to a place of forgiveness – Himself. Then we can say with David, “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble.”

Lord God, You are my HIDING PLACE. I praise You!

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