We’ve all messed up. We’ve all missed it. Welcome to the human race and the reason we need a Savior. But believers are to live in a state of righteousness and being right with God. Take your relationships for example. You don’t live with a sense of unease with your loved ones unless you have offended them. Then you ask them to forgive you and you receive their forgiveness.
The Bible says in 1Jn 1:9 “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We frequently ask for forgiveness but do we also finish the process with receiving His cleansing from all unrighteousness? When we ask for forgiveness God hears and forgives (once and for all). He has no memory of the offense. He cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness, which means there is no guilt from God or need for remorse. It’s over and done and forgiven. As far as God is concerned the offense never happened. But in our minds we still remember it. That’s where our work begins. We must speak to those thoughts that come to steal our peace and say to them, “Yes I did that (thought that or didn’t do what I should have). However……. On January 4th I asked God to forgive me and He said in His Word He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Since He cannot lie, He forgave me and I forgive myself. I am cleansed and right with God.
If my offense is toward another person, then I may need to ask them to forgive me as well.
Too many believers live with condemnation from the past instead of living in righteousness or right standing with God. That unrighteous sense is not a stance of victory or faith or triumph. In that place you can’t pray or be used by God because you’re at odds with Him- not because of your sin but because of how you’re thinking. God doesn’t see you as a sinner. You were a sinner but now he sees you as a child of God and a saint who is forgiven and beloved.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for ….. and right now I receive your forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness. I’m going to take your example and see myself right with You since that’s how You see me. I’m forgiven and in right standing with God.
