(July 5, 2009)

In magic, there are always tricks to the trade. Picking locks, secret doors, etc. Some even try the challenge of having to escape from a prison cell! In our normal daily lives, we sometimes are locked in a prison cell. One of the toughest issues the people deal with which causes us to lock ourselves in a cell is unforgiveness.

Peter had to deal with this. When Jesus shared that he would be betrayed at the Last Supper, Peter said that he would never fail Him. But, Peter blew it. He denied Jesus three times. How could one forgive themselves for this? How about Saul? He caused great pain for Christians early in his life before he became a Christian himself. How could have done such things and forgive himself? That's what most people deal with regarding the guilt they feel even after they are forgiven.

Spiritual freedom is experienced on three levels: We experience God's forgiveness, we experience forgiveness for others, and we experience forgiveness for ourselves.

God's forgiveness means that he doesn't hold them against us anymore. However, people always add the 'yeah, but'. God says that 'as far as the East is from the West' your sins have been forgiven. People who constantly try to punish themselves for the sins that God has already forgiven are never able to get over it. They are suspicious, they don't believe they are loved or are worthy, and they no longer experience joy and happiness. All of this is self-inflicted. If this depression continues, those same people begin to even doubt God because of their own pain.

You can't disappoint God. God has infinite foreknowledge. For example, Jesus knew one of His disciples would deny Him. God knows when we're going to fall. It may surprise us, but it doesn't surprise Him. When we sin, God is already there ready to be called upon.

So many surrender themselves to a shameful, guilt-ridden lifestyle. They live with it so long that they become confortable with it. There are also times that the sin is forgiven, yet we have constant reminders of that sin. Still others believe that they have to earn their way back to being forgiven by God. The sense of unworthiness (God can't use me, self-deprivation) is still another feeling that we might have if we don't forgive themselves.

Understand that if you don't forgive yourself, God will allow that; you have free will and you are perfectly able to do that. But, if you want to eliminate these feelings in your life, do these steps:

1) Recognize the sin. Identify the sin and begin to eliminate that in your life.

2) Repent. Ask for forgiveness and get as far away from that sin as possible.

3) Take God at His word. Believe Him in what He says. YOU ARE FORGIVEN!

4) Walk in freedom and bring others to Him! You can't share, you can't give what you don't live.

- Jon Bruney