Episode 11 - Embracing Forgiveness: A Path to Healing and Freedom

Forgiveness is a powerful yet often challenging concept that can transform our lives in profound ways. Many of us struggle with the weight of past grievances, which can block us from experiencing peace and joy. In this post, we’ll explore the profound impact of forgiveness and how it can lead to healing and spiritual renewal. 

Understanding the Importance of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not just a gift we give to others; it’s a crucial step toward healing ourselves. When we hold onto grudges, we create a chain that binds us to pain and resentment. This emotional burden can affect our mental and physical health, leading to a cycle of negativity that is hard to escape. By forgiving, we unlock ourselves from this bondage and open our hearts to healing.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Good morning. Thank you for watching and supporting. If you have not seen today's topic, we are digging into forgiveness. And I love how God just gives you confirmation that you are doing what you're supposed to do. Every morning I get up and I pray. And then sometimes, but not all the times, I go over to the Bible app where you get your scripture or your verse for the day. And what was shown today? I was so surprised. It is Colossians 3 and 13 that says, bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you have a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you. So I posted that out today, and it's just confirmation that the Lord has something He wants us all to deal with. And it's with forgiveness. So thank you for tuning in today. There is a great song out here by Matthew West called Forgiveness. This is the first time I stumbled on it. Um, and I thought it was so on point with what we had to talk about today. So Matthew in his song is really talking about those things that many of us deal with when we have to forgive. But through prayer, he came and said that he wants to deal with and talk about forgiveness. But also through forgiveness, there is repentance that is also needed, that is also necessary in order for you to be able to allow God to speak to you on those unanswered prayers. Many of us, and we've been sending up prayers to the Lord, we've been asking for our sons, our daughters, our grandchildren, ourselves to receive answers for the Lord. And the Lord is saying, I'm ready to speak. I have been speaking, but a lot of things are blocking us that is not allowing for what He's releasing to pour into our hearts. One of those blockages, or I like to call them dirty smudges that needs to be wiped away, is when we have unforgiveness on our heart, and what we will be talking about and dealing with shortly is the need to repent. 2 Chronicles 7.14 is the verse I got from the Lord when I went into prayer, and it says a very, very familiar verse that we all are so familiar with is if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves if they pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land. This verse is always chopped up, and people pull pieces out of it, but they don't read it in its entirety to be able to receive what God's saying he wants to do. If we are called by his name, we have all been called, we've been saved, we've been born again. Hello, my sister Ebony. Hello, love you. We are to do certain things before God will turn and do two things that he has promised us to do: forgive us for our sins and heal our land, heal those things that we so desperately need him to do. So we're gonna dig into what are those things we need to do. We are ready pray, we are ready to go strong and seeking his face. That one I am not gonna even touch because many of us sit back and say, Heavenly Father, please do this. I need you in this area. We we know how to seek his face, but one of the things we forget to do often is humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways. That's what we're going to deal with today. Let's first talk about turning from our wicked ways. Now, what gets everybody all up in a roar is when they hear the word wicked, when they try to categorize what is a sin or what is a way that is not pleasing to the Lord. So we say, hey, I'm not doing this, so that is a wicked thing. I'm only doing this over here. You know, it's not so bad. It's not that bad. But what God sees, anything that can tarnish our salvation, anything is classified as a wicked way that we need to turn from. How do we do that? Through repentance. We do it through repentance. True repentance that I learned from Prophet Yolanda through Yolanda Worldwide, she classifies true repentance as having godly sorrow and a determination to turn away from ungodly acts through ungodly thoughts and ungodly ways. Ungodly thoughts, acts, and ways is anything that is not what God has us doing or what we should be doing. It can be as simple as lying, it can be as simple as cheating, it can be major as adultery, but there's all layers, strife, jealousy, that play towards ungodly ways. Amen. Do you know when you sit in front of God, he is saying in Proverbs 23 and 6, give me your heart. When you give God your heart, that includes asking for forgiveness for things that you have done. No matter where you categorize it, things that you have done, and from those things you will receive forgiveness. God tells us if you just ask for the forgiveness, and if you turn from that way, he's gonna automatically wash that sin and give you the forgiveness that you're asking for. We know God is merciful. Deuteronomy 4 and 31 tells us, for the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them in the oath. God's mercy is not something we deserve. None of us deserve it. We all we all do things we're not supposed to be doing. Before I even came on today, the Lord told me specifically, you need to go wash your hands. You need to go ask for repentance for things that you did. I'm like, what did I do? And many times we don't recognize some things that we think we do, right? But that's when you pray in advance and you ask for guidance and the help of the Holy Spirit. Reveal to me anything I have not done, pleasing to God, so I can quickly wash my hands and ask for forgiveness. But God wants you to know He is definitely a merciful God. And he always shows mercy. And that mercy is what allows us to be able to turn away from sin without shame, without judgment, but being able to receive God's grace. Lamentations 3, 22 and 23 says, the faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh each morning. Amen. So I think today we need to really think about those things that we need to ask God for repentance. And knowing that He is a merciful God, He is a loving God. He will not look down on you in a shameful manner, no matter what it is. It's time we clean our heart. It's time we start forgiving and asking for repentance for those things. It's time to stop running from the past, putting those things that we know we should be doing, not be doing, because it's time to walk straight into his arms, his arms of mercy. Why do many of us not ask for repentance? Why do we not ask for repentance? One is that that I'm gonna call it an ungodly act. Does it bring shame? Does it bring guilt? Do you feel like you just messed up so bad that even God is not gonna forgive this? Is the weight of that past choice that you made making you feel you are just disqualified for receiving forgiveness for that action? That action there, God wants you to ask for forgiveness. He, with all his mercy, will even forgive that shame and that gift of ungodly act. Is it fear of the consequences? Are you not asking for repentance from that ungodly act because you're afraid of what's gonna happen when you release it? You're afraid that you, if you admit the truth, that you are not gonna get forgiveness from people. And God's gonna punish you for that. We don't serve that kind of God. But when we repent, true repentance, it brings healing. 1 John 1 and 9 says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us. Another reason people don't repent, pride, self-protection. If I admit I did this and I know it's wrong, it's gonna make me look weak. So what do I do? Instead of asking God to forgive me, I try to fix it myself because I knew it was wrong. So I try to fix it. I try to get it right in order and try to do it instead of going to God because you know I, you know, I'm prideful. Now you ain't gonna make you prideful, but that's what's holding you back. And so you're trying to fix it yourself instead of just surrendering, God, I did this thing and it's wrong. Please forgive me. And letting Him step in and smooth it out. Because when you try to fix it, I have been there, so I'm I am talking from experience. When you try to fix something you know you did wrong, instead of surrendering it to God and asking for forgiveness, it don't go right, it gets worse. You invite more people into that chaos, and it just escalates from there and there. God's saying, give it to me, repent from it, and allow my mercy and grace to cover it. Some do ungodly acts and they don't see it as a sin. If the world is doing it, if I see other people doing it and they're not getting in trouble for it, the culture, this is the norm. We got a lot of things out here now that are not pleasing to God. But we're catering to it because that is what the world is doing. That's what we're seeing around us. So it's not that bad. But when you look at it from a godly perspective, it's blocking you, it's adding smudge, it's preventing God from being able to reach you because your heart is not clean. Those sins, I am praying, Holy Spirit, reveal to the people those sins that don't seem like sins, so they know it's not pleasing to you, Heavenly Father. Reveal it so we can repent from it. Because some of them we may not even realize that they are sins because we we just do them. But most of all, we don't realize that God is just waiting, He's waiting for us to release those sins, to repent, and to turn from them. Did you know that when we have mercy from God and we ask for his grace, mercy is renewed every day? Romans 2 and 4 says God is kind, but he's not soft. In his kindness, he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change. You don't have to clean all yourself up first to receive God's mercy. But when we invite him in and we ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal in us those sins that we are doing that we need to repent from. I keep saying I was gonna say ungodly acts. He will show us. He will show us. So, Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that you reveal any ungodly act in our hearts that needs repentance. Give us the peace to know that you are a merciful God, no matter what that ungodly act is, that you are standing by, waiting to forgive us if all we do is ask in Jesus' name. What is that second thing that we need to look at? Now that we didn't dealt with repentance, remember, 2 Chronicles 7 and 14 says, humble yourself. How do we humble ourselves? We humble ourselves through repentance, what we just did, and the second thing which we are talking about today, forgiveness. Unforgiveness is like a chain, and it bonds you, bonds you to pain, it keeps you locked in. That's why I wanted to play that song. Because when we allow ourselves to forgive, it frees us, it's unlocking us, and it allows your heart to start being open and being healed. When you hold on to things, when you hold on to the hurt, you don't allow yourself, your emotions, and even your spirit, man. You don't allow it to be free. It is stuck. Hebrews 12 and 15 says, see to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Forgiveness is not easy. And I I so understand that. I really do, I really get it. Because when you are hurt, when there is something you know you're right, and they cause so much damage and destruction with their words, with their actions, through their behavior, that's a hurtful thing. But what God says, forgiveness is what we need to do. He forgave us on a lot of things that has caused damage and destruction to others. He's saying, I need you to also give that same forgiveness back to those who hurt you. And I always tell people, when you forgive, it doesn't mean you forget. And that's what think people think is I can't forget what they did, I can't forget the damage that is caused. God is not looking to say forgive, and then it's going to automatically come with an eraser and erase that hurt and that pain from you. And it's not going to happen overnight. So don't hear what I'm saying. But we have to take steps towards being healed. What have our sons or our daughters done against us? That as a mom, that's what hurts us the most. Someone you really care about, and they do something to you that destroys your heart. Well, how can I forgive that? It's not easy. But I'm not asking you to do it alone. God says, if you invite me in and you ask me to touch their lives, then I'm going to be in the midst to allow you to forgive and allow Him to deal with whatever that situation is. Where you can find peace. And you're releasing God to manage that situation. We always have a model to look at. How do we walk in forgiveness? And that motto is Jesus. When you look at his life, when you look at all he came to do is to preach the word of his father's kingdom. And he healed some on the way, delivered some on the way. And he said, I know of a better place. And he went through a lot, even on the cross, right before he passed away. Forgive them, Lord, for they don't not what they do. Healing starts with forgiveness. Because we all want 2 Chronicles 7 and 14, where it says, Then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land. So what are we talking about today? Today we are talking about seeking God's face. Praying with our children. Remember, this is mainly supposed to be in that she prays for her son group. But we all have some things that we are seeking after God to answer. To seek his face means that you have to be intimate with God. That means setting aside some time uninterrupted with just you and him. Not going to him with a big list of God, I need this, I need this, I need this. We first go, set that uninterrupted time aside, and just God, I love you. I adore you. I thank you for just being a part of my life. I thank you for the things that I know only you did in the past, when only your mercy is what gave me the grace, so I can receive what you had for me because I did not deserve it. Thank you, Lord. Thank you that I still have a place here, that I have lungs and breathing and I'm on earth. I'm still alive. You know how many people are not even waking up this morning. Take that few extra minutes, seek his face. Next thing, humble yourself and turn from your wicked ways. We've already classified wicked just equals ungodly acts. That can be anything. Don't allow any of those items I just mentioned stop you from coming to God and saying, God, I am sorry. I repent. And be specific. Don't say I just repent from lying, cheating, stealing, and anything that didn't please you. No, be specific. What is it that you did? And if it's one of those sins that we said that you just really don't know you're doing, seek the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, reveal that thing which I am doing so I can turn from it because it's not pleasing to you. When we do all of those things, I promise you, God is saying from his word, 2 Corinthians 7 and 14. When you do those things, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land. So I am asking, confess your sins from your heart. Because if you don't do it, then the Lord won't listen. Psalms 484 and 11 tells us that. If I had not confessed the sins in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. One thing that I pray that we get out of today is that something touched your heart. Because we have a strong desire from God. Our children, I am believing by faith that I will see all of my sons being saved and my family. But I know there's certain things that I am not doing right. But I'm going to repent. And I want to leave a space for you to repent as well. When we come to forgiveness of others, remember there are certain things that you have done that you even asked for repentance for. I couldn't forgive myself. And then the Lord one night in prayer came to me and asked me to release it. He said, release this burden that you're carrying unnecessarily. Because I've already washed you clean of that act. I've already wiped it away. So why are you still trying to personally mud it, muddy back up your heart when I've already washed it clean? He asked me to take his hand. And he said he will walk me through until I am fully at rest for that action. And it definitely was a healing process. Just I think of the ten leopards. That when they went to Jesus and they said, Heal me, and he said, Go to the priest. And by the time you reach the priest, you will be healed. And the one step they took, they probably saw cleans from here. Took another step. They started seeing cleanliness from here. And the more they started walking until they reached the priest, their whole body looks cleansed. That's how forgiveness works sometimes. Where it's okay, where when you take that first step and speak those words, that it's not going to instantly heal your pain. God saying, invite me in. Hold my hand through the process. Because you release it to me, and you continue to follow me and walk with me. Each step you take, you're going to slowly feel that cleansing until you reach the other end and you're able to look back at that person, at that situation, and feel so much peace, irregardless of what they did. That's what God is inviting you into today. And I hope you take them up on it. Continue to hold his hand by seeking his face. Continue to walk in repentance. And forgiveness will be your portion, even when you have to forgive yourself. Amen. Amen. Let us pray. So, Father, I thank you for today. I thank you for this word that you released. I thank you for creating a space where you're allowing us to come to you in repentance. I thank you for creating a space where you're allowing forgiveness to take place. Forgiveness for others, and even forgiveness for ourselves. I thank you, Lord, for reminding us of your mercy. I thank you for reminding us that you are a faithful God, that you love us so much that we no longer have to hold on to anger. We no longer have to hold on to bitterness. We no longer have to hold on to being ashamed. We no longer have to hold on being tired or even feeling guilty. That your mercy will still release your forgiveness onto us. So, Father, I call on the name of the Lord and I ask that you personally touch the lives of those who are here live and those that will listen to me later on the replay. I invite you, Lord, into their hearts, into their lives, if they open up the door and receive you when you knock. I ask in the name of Jesus that you go in and you sit at the table and fellowship with them. Father, reveal those hidden sins, those even people that need to be forgiven that we have just washed off because we just forgot about it. Reveal those things in the gentle manner that you always do. And Father, I pray that you will hold their hands. Because some of these things are not easy to release to you. But let them know that because they sought your face, and because they humbled their ways, and because they're willing to turn from their wicked ways, that you are going to hear from heaven, and that you are coming into their situation, and you're going to heal their land with their families, with their sons, with whatever area that is bothering them today, that is seeking your healing. And these things I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Woo! This was a tough one today. This was very tough today. Oh, thank you, my sister Tracy. Hi, Tara. How are you doing? Thank you for all that are watching today. I really, really hope this touched you. Please, if you know someone that is struggling with repentance, if they're struggling with unforgiveness, but they still desperately have a prayer up that they need answered from the Lord. Send them this prayer. Send them this message. And I'm going to do a great shout out for my group. She praising her son. If you are not a part of this Facebook group and you are a mom, what are you waiting on? Yes, this calls she prays for her son, but come on if you got a daughter as well. I'm okay there. Inside the group, it is a safe community where moms get together and we talk on key topics of parenting our children because we pray for our sons and we want them to be the best that they can be. We want them walking in their God-given purpose. Amen. So thank you for spending your Saturday with me. I love you all. I'm a little tearied on this side because some of these topics, like I said, are a little bit emotional. But thanks for joining me. I will be back live if God permits next Saturday, but I'm going to do it in the group unless God says something different. But thanks for watching, and I appreciate you all. Bye-bye.