Forgiven

"...as far as the east is from the west, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us." -Psalms 103:12 (NIV)

Are you holding on to your past? Refusing to let go of something you've done either to yourself, to a friend, to a loved one, or maybe even to a complete stranger? Do you feel guilty and remorseful? Do you wonder what you can do to correct the situation? Are you tired of living daily with the thought of what you have done and are searching for something, anything to make the unwanted memory go away? You cannot imagine going through life free from your past, free from the life you were once living or, perhaps, are living right now. Instead, you search for the next high that, in reality, is masking your pain and destroying your life with a tip of the glass that just doesn't hold the power that it used to.

The real question is, are you ready to accept the forgiveness waiting for you? The answer is Jesus. On the cross, Jesus Christ paid for every sin you ever committed. He bore your transgressions and your iniquities. He stood in your place and took the punishment for you to give you life. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins... (and) God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ" (Ephesians 2:1,4b,5a). You can live again through Christ, and I mean truly live with joy and complete peace!

I love how Psalms 103:12 talks about just how far we can be separated from our past: "...as far as the east is from the west, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us."When Christ went to the cross, He made it possible for your sins to be so far removed from you that they could never haunt you again.

Today, stop holding on to your past. Turn your past over to God, ask His forgiveness, and then forget about it! That's exactly what He is going to do!

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Describe the something you did that haunts you from your past. Now, confess it to God and ask for His forgiveness. Now that you've taken it to the Lord and let go of your transgression, describe how you're feeling.

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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, wow, what an awesome, incredible gift You gave to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ! Today I confess my sin to You - not just some of them, but all of them. Please, wash me white as snow. Remove from me the memories that haunt me, and replace them with a peace beyond all understanding. Your peace! Become the Lord of my life today. I love You Jesus, my Savior, and my Lord. Amen.