forgiveness – gaillovesgod

Lord, thank You for the blessed chat You gave me today with a friend. I am always praying for You to allow me to bless him in what ever way You allow, as You have taught me to do that with anyone You bring across my path. Many times You use him to shower blessings my way… blessings of encouragement, wisdom, knowledge…

and compassion.

I can have such a hard time forgiving myself of things long ago… some are my fault… some are not. Things I thought that I already had forgiven myself for. Things I thought I had already given to You. Your topic for us today was showing compassion to ourselves, regardless of what we have done. Your Only Son put His life on the cross that we might be reconciled with You, that we may be forgiven of all sins… past, present, and future!

Talk about Compassion!

I heard You telling me to look up the word compassion…
using Webster’s definition and the Concordance.

– sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it
(Webster’s)

– originally brotherly love, to show mercy as if we are all one family in God
(concordance)

On the way home, I went into a restroom and had my hands in my head in weary exhaustion. While my eyes were closed I clearly heard a strong female voice say,

“Everyone needs compassion.”

I raised my head in awe that You had made Yourself present… even in a ladies public bathroom (but in a private stall). The voice continued singing…

“Everyone needs forgiveness.“

I knew You were giving me a direct message. The first instruction being to listen for as many word clues to find the song online when at home.

“Let mercy fall on me. The kindness of a Savior.”

Oh You tugged at my heart. I heard my younger self in those words… a scared… broken little girl who has long needed mercy. How cruel was I to be withholding that mercy. And by withholding it, also withholding the kindness of a Savior. A kindness that He has shown to me time and time again… even now in this stall. I knew I was to find this song.

“So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

And fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

And now I surrender”

Again I kept hearing her voice… my younger self… pleading for me to accept her as she is… with all her fears and failures… and fill her life again. She is willing to give her life to follow everything she believes in… which is YOU! She’s ready to surrender it all to You. Aren’t I? I thought it was the other way around.

As it kept playing, I eventually recognized this as a praise and worship song from church that I’ve sung a thousand times over… Mighty to Save. Yet You were renewing it for me! Praise Your Holy name for Christian businesses that pipe in Christian music through their overhead speakers. Praise You for Cook Out! Bless them Lord! And praise You for Mighty to Save!

As I was looking for a lyric version to share, the first one showed the song comes from the inspiration of Zephaniah 3:17!!
One of my favorite verses in the bible!!! ❤

While the version was horribly recorded, You used it to remind me of Your loving compassion in a verse that You won my heart with in such a mighty way that it was my verse in my greeting cards for a whole year or more.

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;

he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;

he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

– Zephaniah 3:17 AKJV

The thought that someone would rejoice over me!! With joy!
Resting in His love! That I would be someone’s love!
And that He would find joy in singing over me!
I know that has to be You!
You’re the only one I could believe in that with!
And You ARE mighty to save!
The mountains You have moved to save me!
From my world! From myself! From hell!
I love You, my Author of Salvation!
Only You could write that story! And I’m glad it’s mine!
I believe! And I receive! You! Your compassion!
And Your love! Forever! ❤

Sin is real. It’s so real, it’s scary.
It’s scary how it has so much control.
It’s scary how it has a grip on me.
It’s scary that I seem to have a grip on sin.
Whether it’s lying, stealing, or coveting
sin is something that God hates.
And for that reason alone, I know that hell is real.
Eternal condemnation is real.
The reality of it’s existence is scary.
It’s so scary to know it wants me.
It’s so scary to know it waits for me to fail.
How scary to know that Satan can make evil
such a pleasurably and comforting feeling.
It’s scary to know that he smiles in the dark
to know he has yet lured me again.
Forgiveness is so real. It’s a comforting thing.
It too waits for me and smiles,
but thank God because it’s a part of Christ’s love.
It’s so comforting to know it embraces me.
It’s so comforting to know it rescues me.
It’s so comforting to know it cleanses me.
And most of all, it comforts me to know
it strengthens me and makes it possible to resist sin.
Forgiveness makes me a new person.
And that is a real comfort.