Pastor, Can God Ever Forgive Me?
Pastor, can God ever forgive me?
Answer: Of course he can. In fact, you are already forgiven but you just have to be ready to receive it. We do not understand God when it comes to forgiveness, because of doubt, and because frankly, we ourselves tend to judgmental of others.
We are judgmental (we hold grudges, for example), or we can "forgive but not forget." So we have a hard time fathoming someone who can be very gracious and forgiving.
In fact, we don't even forgive ourselves. Prior to salvation, we all have a big ego. We want to be praised and respected, and we resent criticism. Moreover, we want to be right and never wrong.
Do you know anyone (your mother, for instance) who always has to be right?
Not only do we want to be right, but we don't want to admit it when we are wrong.
So the longer we go, the wronger we become. We become more and more guilty before conscience not so much for the things we have done (resent others, hate our parents, gossip, be dishonest and phony, etc.) but we become guilty for our attitude of denying conscience and trying to prove ourselves good.
We become guilty of trying to save ourselves even. When the ego can no longer deny its wrong, it then saves face by trying to rise above its wrong by condemning itself.
The answer is to learn how to let go and let God. The kind of thinking (and voices) that tell you that you are condemned and God can't forgive you, etc. etc. are straight from hell.
That's why it is good to learn how to meditate properly, so you can stand back and observe the negative and doubt thoughts without giving in to them.
First forgive others. Then you will be able to forgive yourself too. When you forgive others (let go of the resentment, especially of a parent or resentment of a father who was not there for you), then you will be open to receive God's forgiveness.
Recommended reading: Becoming a Friend of God - finding peace of mind and courage in an age of anxiety.
preview free in paperback
We are judgmental (we hold grudges, for example), or we can "forgive but not forget." So we have a hard time fathoming someone who can be very gracious and forgiving.
In fact, we don't even forgive ourselves. Prior to salvation, we all have a big ego. We want to be praised and respected, and we resent criticism. Moreover, we want to be right and never wrong.
Do you know anyone (your mother, for instance) who always has to be right?
Not only do we want to be right, but we don't want to admit it when we are wrong.
So the longer we go, the wronger we become. We become more and more guilty before conscience not so much for the things we have done (resent others, hate our parents, gossip, be dishonest and phony, etc.) but we become guilty for our attitude of denying conscience and trying to prove ourselves good.
We become guilty of trying to save ourselves even. When the ego can no longer deny its wrong, it then saves face by trying to rise above its wrong by condemning itself.
The answer is to learn how to let go and let God. The kind of thinking (and voices) that tell you that you are condemned and God can't forgive you, etc. etc. are straight from hell.
That's why it is good to learn how to meditate properly, so you can stand back and observe the negative and doubt thoughts without giving in to them.
First forgive others. Then you will be able to forgive yourself too. When you forgive others (let go of the resentment, especially of a parent or resentment of a father who was not there for you), then you will be open to receive God's forgiveness.
Recommended reading: Becoming a Friend of God - finding peace of mind and courage in an age of anxiety.
preview free in paperback
