Day 1, GIFT #1 - Give yourself the gift of forgiveness!

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.” (Isaiah 45:25-26)

Today is December first. Each day leading up to Christmas, I will suggest a special Christmas gift for you to give on that day, beginning with the fist one today, and ending on Christmas Day.

Today’s gift is for yourself!

This first gift is wonderful and powerful. In fact, it could even be the most important Christmas gift you will ever give to anyone because of its potential to affect not only you, but also others near you! Let me explain what I mean with the following illustration that I gleaned from years of traveling on commercial airlines. During pre-flight instructions, the flight attendant usually instructs you, (during a cabin pressure emergency), to place the oxygen mask on yourself first, then you will be in the position to help others near you. The point is, you cannot adequately help others near you while you are struggling yourself. The same thing can be said about other areas of your life.

Not easy, but necessary!

Dealing with your own issues isn't always easy, especially if you've made some big mistakes you deeply regret. You may have repented (turned away from them). You may have asked and gotten forgiveness from others you have hurt or offended, but you may not have been able to forgive yourself. And, truthfully,  if you haven't forgiven yourself, you are not in a healthy position emotionally to help others. This is where today's gift comes in.

Forgive yourself and move forward!

Today, on December first, give yourself the gift of forgiveness! That’s right, choose to forgive yourself!

Reasons to forgive yourself

• Forgive yourself because God forgave you first

When you ask for God’s forgiveness based upon Christ having already paid for your sins and your having trusted in Him as Savior and Lord, He forgives you. It is as simple as that. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

• Forgive yourself because you are a new creature in Christ

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17 KJV)

• Forgive yourself because you are free to move ahead

At first, guilt can be a healthy emotion to alert you to the fact that you have made mistakes, and you need to make some necessary changes. But, if you hang on to feelings of guilt after repentance and after making needed changes, it can become an unhealthy emotion, keeping you trapped emotionally in the past, and it can keep you from moving on with your life as you should. The Bible says, “Whom the Son, sets free, is free indeed!” (John 8:36)

• Forgive yourself because failing to do so will blind you spiritually

Not forgiving yourself will cause you to see things through the eyes of guilt, shame and condemnation. It will ruin your faith, and cause you to go blind spiritually: "But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." (2 Peter 2:9)

 Follow Jesus' example

So, just as Jesus Christ forgave you, do the same and be kind and tenderhearted with forgiveness to yourself. Then, go do the same for others!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32)

“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8b)