Do you ever have a challenging moment, or a day, you just want to press rewind and play out what happened differently? I have, and last week I had a moment like that.

Unfortunately in life we aren't given a rewind button or the opportunity to erase those moments. Yet what we are given is the opportunity to sit with God, and His Word, to help guide us in how to move forward from those challenging moments we experience. The one word that I come back to when I sit with God is forgiveness.

Forgiveness is healing.

Whether we need to forgive ourselves, someone else, or both, forgiveness is a bridge to freedom for our souls.

Forgiveness doesn't mean we have to make ourselves vulnerable to the same hurts again, nor does it give us permission to go and say/do again what we said/did that we need forgiveness for. Most importantly forgiveness helps make us right with God. It also humbles us when we ask for forgiveness, which is an important character quality to live out. Forgiveness also frees us from needing someone to ask us for it because we can give forgiveness, without being asked for it. Forgiveness frees our souls, and whether that person ever comes around to ask for forgiveness from us, or not, we no longer need what happened to negatively impact us.

As we enter this week, may we take time to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we pause to ask ourselves if there is anyone we need ask forgiveness from and/or anyone we need to forgive, whether they have asked us to forgive them or not. May we choose to sit with God so that we are better equipped to practice forgiveness this week. Forgiving ourselves. Forgiving others. Just as God forgave us to set us free, may we also forgive to bring freedom to our souls.

With gratitude and love,
Shawn

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

-Colossians 3:13