THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD                                                           1 John 1:1-10

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (v9)

Feelings of true guilt that are rooted in wrong choices  and lifestyles will lead to spiritual restlessness and pain if not guided by God to His solution – forgiveness. The pain of true guilt is inbuilt by God to cause us to seek relief. But where? Not in denying guilt and claiming it is an illusion. Not in suppression or repression or any other kind of psychological  talking therapies. Not in saying, “Let by gones be by gones.” Not in joking about it as Oscar Wilde did when he declared, “The only way to get rid of temptation is by yielding to it.” No, we are limited on either side by hedges of thorns that press painfully against us if we attempt to stray and take any way other than Christ’s. These thorn hedges are the creation of God’s mercy. He has provided them so that we should not be comfortable in wrong-doing. Of course, we have to admit our guilt before we can be delivered from it. Deny the problem of guilt and nothing can be done about it. Admit it and at once there is the possibility of a solution.

The first of the 12 steps set out by Alcoholics Anonymous is: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.” The first step in deliverance from guilt is also to admit that we are powerless to do anything about it ourselves and ask God for His forgiveness and strength. Are there any names and places from which you shy away in your memory? Anything for which you need forgiveness? Remember today is the tomorrow you put off yesterday.

PRAYER LINE: Father God, I turn to You in repentance for any sin there may be in my life. Your mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. I am so grateful. Amen. (EDWJ)

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Anything for which you need forgiveness? Take action now.