I’ve heard it said, no one has the power to forgive sins, but God.

That is 100% totally true in the overall picture of forgiveness.

Scripture also says, forgive one another as I have forgiven you.

I don’t think anyone can argue the fact we need to forgive others.

Scripture is clear. 7×70, we forgive.

But here’s the point I want to present: Forgiving ourselves….

Now that is where people want to complicate things.

Some would argue we don’t have that kind of power, but yet we somehow have the power to forgive others as God has forgiven us???

Now in the overall sense of things, if we don’t have the power to forgive ourselves, then we couldn’t have the power to forgive others either.

Because Jesus is the only one who died to save us all.

Maybe it’s just me or my opinion, but how can we NOT afford to show ourselves the same compassion as we would a friend or even an enemy?

Of course, we didn’t die on the cross for ourselves, nor did anyone else for that matter.

But Jesus did.

And He has all power.

The concept of forgiving ourselves is the same as forgiving others.

It’s simply releasing the shame, guilt, and condemnation from mistakes.

Whether on our part or the other party’s part.

It’s also releasing the negative emotions that come with the offense and replacing them with the peace of God that passes all understanding.

It’s allowing ourselves to seek a state of restoration of the mind, body and spirit, where there has been brokenness or damage.

It’s an uncomplicated way of moving forward.

God has already forgiven us, so why can’t we, too?

We deserve to treat ourselves as kind as we would any of those around us.

What is the point, if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul?

Simply because we felt we had to keep a record of wrongs against our own self?

Jesus is not in the business of allowing us to continually beat ourselves up.

That’s not forgiveness, that’s self mutilation!

When I say forgive, I mean give ourselves love, grace, understanding and the ok to “let go” of whatever God has ALREADY forgiven…

And move forward in His peace.

Forgiveness is acknowledging wrong.

It’s not letting anyone off the hook, but choosing to LET GO of the offense.

It’s taking responsibility and learning from our mistakes.

So, how can we NOT afford to do the same for ourselves?

No one deserves the grace and forgiveness we receive from God, but we get it ANYWAY.

That’s the purpose of the Cross.

So, CHOOSE to “let go” and let God.

Choose to activate the forgiveness God has ALREADY given you.

And LET it GO!

The time has come to stop beating ourselves up.

We already have an accuser and an enemy doing that for us.

That’s his job. Not ours.

Let’s be kind to ourselves and do better.

Take responsibility.

Let go.

Move forward.

Surround ourselves with positivity to allow for personal growth.

When we allow ourselves to let go and release the ‘baggage’ we’ve carried for so long into God’s hands, God steps in.

He takes up the empty baggage of emotions, the self-mutilation, the doubts and returns them back into the “sea of forgetfulness.”

Remember, He has already forgiven when you asked the first time.

And He has already forgotten them all. He no longer remembers them.

We are the ones who can’t seem to forget.

We will find He reaches for our hand, and He will never let go.

Let’s make the choice to shake loose from the pain of too many shameful yesterdays.

And choose to be happy and to live again. Like REALLY LIVE again.

Forgiveness is for everyone—even ourselves.