An Unaccepting Heart

An Unaccepting Heart

Wendy Pope

I spent many years regretting sins from my past—sins that had hurt others and myself. Day after day, I replayed my decisions. Even decades later, the sting of past sins still had a hold on me.

I knew God had forgiven me; I’d asked Him to. So why couldn’t I accept the freedom of His forgiveness? I wanted so badly to believe I was the person David describes in Psalm 32:2, yet it never happened.

Embracing the blessedness of forgiveness can be hard to do. It sounds all well and good, but too often the reality is that we are still carrying the weight of sin we can’t seem to forget or forgive ourselves for. Yet, His Word assures us that God does not count our sin against us. So how can we live in this truth?

The first step is acknowledging our sins—to ourselves and to God. Confession reconciles our hearts with God’s heart.

Then we begin to fill our hearts and minds with truth. Throughout the Bible, God teaches how an unaccepting heart can be changed and softened to accept His forgiveness. Consider these truths as a message for you from a loving God who longs to transform your life through the grace of His forgiveness:

My God doesn’t condemn. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

My master is grace, not sin. “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

My Savior Jesus has set me free, therefore I am free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

My old is gone; because of Jesus Christ I am new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Are you lugging a load of sin that God has already forgiven and forgotten? Are you ready to stop living in shame, shackled by regret? Life is too short to exchange the freedom of grace for the bondage of our unbelief. Allow God to wash away the hurt and regret from past sins with the transforming power of His truth. Pray for an accepting heart that lives in the freedom of God’s grace and forgiveness. That is a prayer God is sure to hear and answer.

Dear Lord, by faith I accept Your forgiveness and refuse to be a slave to forgiven sin any longer. I confess and move on! I commit to believing Your transforming truths and accept Your offer to live fully and freely in grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

You were not created to carry the weight of your sin. Jesus carried it for you, straight to the cross.

REFLECT

How will your life be different when truth takes root in your heart?

RESPOND

Help truth defeat the lies by writing the four truth statements from this devotion on an index card. Tuck them in your Bible or purse and read them aloud today.

POWER VERSES

Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 43:25