Hey Bestie! Let’s talk about accepting God’s forgiveness.
There was a time that I genuinely didn’t think that I deserved God’s forgiveness. I was so deep in my own judgment, I thought I deserved to be punished forever.
The truth is that there was nothing that I could’ve possibly done to earn God’s forgiveness, but He chose to freely give it to me because He wanted to.
Maybe you know that forgiveness is available, but you can’t bring yourself to accept it.
Or maybe you want to accept it, but you just don’t know how.
Today you’re going to understand the nature of God’s forgiveness, why it has been difficult for you to accept His forgiveness, what the Bible says about accepting forgiveness, and more.
This post is all about accepting God’s forgiveness.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
Understanding The Nature Of God’s Forgiveness
1 John 4:8-10 NIV-Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God’s forgiveness is unlike anything we’ve ever known. It isn’t based off of what we’ve done, but it’s rooted in who He is.
You were created to be loved by God. In love, He predestined you for adoption to sonship through Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will (Ephesians 1:5 NIV).
This was so that you’d never have to be apart from Him again.
God is love. And love always has to be expressed.
You were created as an object of God’s love, so He freely gives you His mercies and forgiveness.
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Why Is It Difficult To Accept God’s Forgiveness
There are a few reasons why it could be difficult to accept God’s forgiveness.
Based on my own experience, I will give you seven reasons why it was once difficult for me.
Here are seven reasons why it may be difficult for you to accept God’s forgiveness:
1. Your Emotions Are In The Way
I had to accept a hard truth: My emotions weren’t a factor in God’s giftings to me…
God’s words and actions aren’t predicated on your feelings.
Forgiveness is God’s idea and He wanted to forgive you because of who He is and who you are to Him.
Your emotions were given to you so that you could experience the depth of life, but they were never supposed to dictate you.
When you allow your emotions to be your dictators, you give them permission to write a story based on a narrow perspective.
Instead of allowing them to do this, take the word of God at face value.
Your feelings will always come and go, but the word of God will remain forever (Isaiah 40:8 ESV).
{RELATED POST: 9 Strategies To Trust God Beyond Emotions}
2. Everything Is Centered Around You
I had to realize that because I gave my life to Christ, I was no longer the main character…
Pride is when you believe that everything depends on you; that life revolves around your actions. That things going right or wrong are all your doing.
You are not the God of your own life.
- If you could have saved yourself, you would have.
- If you could’ve cleaned yourself up, you would have.
- If you could’ve forgiven yourself, you would have.
- If you could have accepted God’s forgiveness on your own, you would have.
Who told you that you’re responsible for all of the weight that you have been carrying?
3. You Feel Like You Have To Earn Forgiveness
I grew up having to work for love so I thought forgiveness worked the same way…
This idea of having to work, earn, and be the best has been ingrained in you from youth.
From getting good grades to making money. Society has taught you that in order to have anything, you must earn it.
But it’s different with God. He wants you to receive. To receive, you have to take the position of a child.
It’s time to start living from a place of dependency again.
You will always be God’s child and that is your rightful place.
4. You’re Avoiding Vulnerability
Vulnerability wasn’t something I grew up seeing…
Being vulnerable is not a weakness; it’s a strength. Anything that requires you to get uncomfortable is meant for you to grow.
When did vulnerability become something that you decided to avoid? Why did you start avoiding it?
For me, I was taught that not knowing meant that something was wrong with me.
The truth is that there’s also power in not knowing because you get to learn.
It’s more than okay to admit that you don’t know something. That doesn’t make you less than.
It makes you teachable.
{RELATED POST: Rejection From Family: 7 Tips To Heal And Move Forward}
5. The Idea Of God Forgiving You Is Too Good To Be True
I once thought that I needed to be punished indefinitely and grace was too good to be true…
God’s love for you is deeper than you could ever imagine.
Take some time to answer these reflection questions with the Lord:
- Why do you think of yourself as unworthy?
- How come you don’t think that you could be loved as much as you are?
- What makes you think that His love for you is too good to be true?
Nothing about this is too good to be true.
Allow God to help you to believe that forgiveness is meant for you.
Here is a resource that will help you—————> TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
6. You Need To Overcome Guilt And Shame
At one point, I was guilty and shame plagued my existence…
Guilt and Shame are two emotions that can keep you trapped in unforgiveness.
One of the emotions gives you hope that things can get better. The other emotion tries to enmesh with your thoughts.
For more on how to overcome guilt and shame, see this post.
7. You’re In A Victim’s Mentality
Being a victim kept me from embracing my God-given identity…
Accepting forgiveness is the path that leads to your breakthrough. It’s time to stop making excuses about why you can’t and just do it.
Just because you have done some “bad” things in your life doesn’t mean that you are disqualified.
You were designed to partner with God before you were sent to this realm.
Let Him help you.
{RELATED POST: 5 Keys For Overcoming A Victim’s Mentality}
Once you learn to accept God’s forgiveness, it’s time to give some of that forgiveness to yourself. God gives us forgiveness so that we can forgive ourselves and eventually forgive others. Remember that we can only love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. The same principle applies to forgiveness. When you’re ready to extend God’s forgiveness to yourself, click the image below to get your Forgiving Yourself Mini Bundle. This bundle is designed for you to start the process of forgiving yourself God’s way.
What Does The Bible Say About Accepting Forgiveness
The Bible doesn’t explicitly say to accept forgiveness. Instead it reminds us of what Christ has done, why He did it, and encourages us to live our lives through Him.
Here are some scriptures that can help you to receive God’s forgiveness:
Matthew 26:27-28
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many of the forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Once you learn to accept God’s forgiveness, it’s time to give some of that forgiveness to yourself. God gives us forgiveness so that we can forgive ourselves and eventually forgive others. Remember that we can only love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. The same principle applies to forgiveness. When you’re ready to extend God’s forgiveness to yourself, click the image below to get your Forgiving Yourself Mini Bundle. This bundle is designed for you to start the process of forgiving yourself God’s way.
How To Accept God’s Forgiveness
Forgiveness is God’s loving kindness towards us. It’s given as an invitation to return to a life of righteousness.
Throughout my own journey, I have coined the ABC’s of Acceptance.
Here are six steps to accept God’s forgiveness in your life:
1. Acknowledge That Forgiveness Is God’s Idea
Revelation 13:8 NKJV-All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Forgiveness starts and ends with God. Before the foundations of the world, God made arrangements for you to receive forgiveness.
It was His idea from the beginning.
Whenever you start to feel that you don’t deserve forgiveness, remind yourself that forgiveness is God’s idea.
2. Believe That He Wanted To Give It To You
Ephesians 1:4 NIV-For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
God decided to forgive you before you were sent to this realm. There was nothing that you could’ve ever done to earn God’s forgiveness.
He decided long ago that He would be the Source of all existence.
It was His idea to give you all things and forgiveness is a part of that.
3. Center The Idea Of Forgiveness Around God
Psalm 23:3 ESV-He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Just as the Earth revolves around the Sun, you’re life is meant to revolve around God.
Everything seen and unseen was created by Him, for Him. This includes you as well as forgiveness.
God is at the center and He supplies everything that you need.
4. Decenter Yourself
Proverbs 16:18 ESV-Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Remember that you are not your own God. You don’t have to carry all of the responsibility.
Release pride to God and stop taking on things that are too big for you to handle.
5. Educate Your Feelings
1 John 3:20 NLT-Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
Your feelings will try to tell you their own story so you will need to educate them on what God has already said.
When your feelings rise up, remind them of what the Word of God says.
You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
6. Fasten Your Faith
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is needed because things don’t always make sense.
In this walk with Christ, your need to understand must be put to death.
It doesn’t make logical sense that God simply forgives, but faith helps you to accept it.
I want to remind you that forgiveness is an ongoing journey. You will always have to actively decide to accept God’s forgiveness and remember the reason why you can.
This post was all about accepting God’s forgiveness.
If You Enjoyed This Post, You’ll Love These:
How To Walk In Obedience To God
How To Forgive When You’re Still Angry
Forgiving Yourself: 5 Steps To Forgive Yourself God’s Way
Why Is It So Hard To Forgive Yourself
Before You Go…Let’s Recap
A quick recap of why its difficult to accept God’s forgiveness:
- Your emotions are in the way
- Everything is centered around you
- You feel like you have to earn forgiveness
- You’re avoiding vulnerability
- The idea of God forgiving you is too good to be true
- You need to overcome guilt and shame
- You’re in a victim’s mentality
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Always remember that you’re destined to win because He got up!
-Devyn Janae
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