Victory247

“Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up”  Psalm 71:20  (NIV)

A key to emotional health is the ability to forgive and start over. This encompasses two dimensions. We need to be willing to forgive others and be willing to ask others to forgive us.

Forgiving others many times involves getting past our anger or hurt. We shouldn’t have to sit there exposing ourselves to continual abuse, but we do need to ask God to give us the supernatural ability to genuinely forgive, then move ahead. Result; RESTORED inner and social health!

Asking others for their forgiveness takes God’s help also. We need to ask Him to give us the eyes to recognize when we have wronged someone. Then to be humble enough to admit to them specifically the offense, and not just say “sorry”. Instead, ask forgiveness for the exact thing we did or said. Result; RESTORED inner and social health!

But there is one overriding forgiveness that must precede. Experiencing God’s forgiveness has to be first and continual. It is a paramount, prerequisite, perfect, peace-giving, panoramic pardon (sorry, got preachin’ there). We must grasp that His love and concern for us is greater than our wrongdoings. He wants us to walk in His strength and direction, but knows we are inherently knuckleheads in nature. I am convinced that the greater offense in God’s economy isn’t the sin, it’s the thought that He won’t forgive the committed sin. If we do that enough times we will give up all together, and throw in the towel instead of confessing and moving ahead. He doesn’t expect perfection, He expects the attempt, while leaning on His strength, to be striving in the right direction. This entails continual “start overs”.

Overweight Comedian Kevin James said, “My fitness goals are different than most peoples. Most people want to lose enough weight so they look good in a bathing suit or they want to lower their cholesterol. I just want to lose enough so my stomach doesn’t jiggle when I brush my teeth. ”

Some of us may need to lower the expectation of pulling off a “mistakeless” existence. And understand that the expectation is just to join God in the process of going in the right direction, a little at a time.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me the heart to be a forgiver. Give me the eyes to see when I need to ask forgiveness. Give me a healthy perspective of going in the right direction in my walk with You. Thank You for the inner and social blessings that will follow. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.