IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been upset at yourself? Maybe for something you recently did, or for something you did long ago that now you are answering too? Have you done something so many times, that you've given up asking for forgiveness because the act of asking the Lord for forgiveness has been done so many times it's lost meaning because you keep doing the same nonsense over and over again despite saying you are sorry? Have you been called sorry by a loved one? Have you called yourself sorry? Have you given up on yourself?
Few men call the morning prayer line every morning if the answers to the above questions are, "Naw, never bro, not me."
Why is it so hard for men to forgive themselves? Why do we repeat transgressions against our faith?
I don't know. Yes, I said that. I don't know? But what I can tell you is this, you are still here, on the prayer line. Brother Francis has said it so often, "Not everyone is blessed to wake up to another day."
We are blessed.
Also, I can tell you from experience that many men give up so badly they turn there backs on Christ. With my own ears, I've heard some of my dearest brothers renounce Christ and announce some dumbfounded belief. I bet you heard this nonsense from some of your friends too.
This is not going to happen to you brothers! Why? Because you are stronger than that.
I'm no preacher, not a minister, nor pastor, nor saint. I am a sinner like you. I am a man that has heard most all of the sermons on self-forgiveness, nothing has stuck, I still sin, despite asking for a sinless life.
So, what can I possibly say to you to get you and myself to snap out of any self-pity we may be experiencing.
Here goes....
IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU!!!
Forgiving yourself is vital for those in your sphere of influence --- especially your family; your daughters, your sons, your wife. It is a well-known fact that hurting people hurt others. The longer you avoid forgiving yourself, the longer you allow yourself to harbor the feelings that you deserve to suffer for what you did, the more explosive you will become and, therefore, the apter you are to hurt others with your actions or non-actions.
The reality is that you cannot change what has happened. IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN! The milk is sour, throw it out! Holding on to it, keeping it in the refrigerator is not going to miraculously make it fresh again. Similarly, you cannot restore your life to where it was before the event or events that lead to you current despair. However, you can make a difference in the lives of others. You can give back some of what you have taken away by finding a different place to invest your time and compassion.
I'm gonna go way off the usual script here fellas to make a point. Let's see if this is clear to you.
Think of the movie Pulp Fiction. Remember the Wolf, I'm gonna tell you something the way the Wolf would tell you.
"Get it straight, Buster. I'm not here to say "please." I'm here to tell you what to do. And if self-preservation is an instinct you possess, you better do it and do it quick. I'm here to help. If my help's not appreciated, lots of luck, gentlemen. If I'm curt with you, it's because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast, and I need you guys to act fast if you want to get out of this self-pity and get to Heaven. So pretty please, with sugar on top, forgive yourself and let the healing begin!
Forgiving yourself will change the direction of your life. That's all I got fellas. In closing, consider the following prayer. Listen to it attentively, give voice to it. You need to hear yourself forgive yourself! There is great power in the spoken word!
Let us pray -
Dear Heavenly Father, I understand that there is nothing to gain by men holding ourselves in unforgiveness. I further understand there is everything to gain by releasing ourselves from unforgiveness and beginning the process of healing.
Father, I want every man to move forward and at this moment make a positive difference in his future. I call on Your power Father that through Your Holy Spirit these men can both start and finish forgiving themselves in the same breath!
I confess Lord on behave of myself and all my brothers that the ungodly accountability, self-humiliation, the vows we made to never forgive ourselves, to always remember our faults, and walk with our minds always remembering the shame; I confess for us all that our thoughts are wrong and not aligned with Your love for us.
So, we cast these thoughts and unrighteous self-beliefs to the feet of Jesus to be crushed by His soles never to be seen again.
Because Jesus died for our sins, why choose to carry burdens? I choose to forgive myself --- to no longer punish myself --- or be angry with myself.
Men, the time is now, right now, forgive yourselves for letting this hurt control you and for hurting others out of this pain.
Father, we repent of this behavior and attitude. We ask for Your forgiveness and healing. We turn away from this sin to never return to it. We stand united as men, as Your children, and as fathers of our children, we serve them as examples of humility and strength.
Help us to NEVER again retain unforgiveness of ourselves or others. Thank you for loving us and for Your grace to move forward with You.
Jesus! What a wonderful name it is, nothing compares to Him. What a beautiful name it is! In Jesus' Name we pray -
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Scripture
1 John 3:19-20
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."
Few men call the morning prayer line every morning if the answers to the above questions are, "Naw, never bro, not me."
Why is it so hard for men to forgive themselves? Why do we repeat transgressions against our faith?
I don't know. Yes, I said that. I don't know? But what I can tell you is this, you are still here, on the prayer line. Brother Francis has said it so often, "Not everyone is blessed to wake up to another day."
We are blessed.
Also, I can tell you from experience that many men give up so badly they turn there backs on Christ. With my own ears, I've heard some of my dearest brothers renounce Christ and announce some dumbfounded belief. I bet you heard this nonsense from some of your friends too.
This is not going to happen to you brothers! Why? Because you are stronger than that.
I'm no preacher, not a minister, nor pastor, nor saint. I am a sinner like you. I am a man that has heard most all of the sermons on self-forgiveness, nothing has stuck, I still sin, despite asking for a sinless life.
So, what can I possibly say to you to get you and myself to snap out of any self-pity we may be experiencing.
Here goes....
IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU!!!
Forgiving yourself is vital for those in your sphere of influence --- especially your family; your daughters, your sons, your wife. It is a well-known fact that hurting people hurt others. The longer you avoid forgiving yourself, the longer you allow yourself to harbor the feelings that you deserve to suffer for what you did, the more explosive you will become and, therefore, the apter you are to hurt others with your actions or non-actions.
The reality is that you cannot change what has happened. IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN! The milk is sour, throw it out! Holding on to it, keeping it in the refrigerator is not going to miraculously make it fresh again. Similarly, you cannot restore your life to where it was before the event or events that lead to you current despair. However, you can make a difference in the lives of others. You can give back some of what you have taken away by finding a different place to invest your time and compassion.
I'm gonna go way off the usual script here fellas to make a point. Let's see if this is clear to you.
Think of the movie Pulp Fiction. Remember the Wolf, I'm gonna tell you something the way the Wolf would tell you.
"Get it straight, Buster. I'm not here to say "please." I'm here to tell you what to do. And if self-preservation is an instinct you possess, you better do it and do it quick. I'm here to help. If my help's not appreciated, lots of luck, gentlemen. If I'm curt with you, it's because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast, and I need you guys to act fast if you want to get out of this self-pity and get to Heaven. So pretty please, with sugar on top, forgive yourself and let the healing begin!
Forgiving yourself will change the direction of your life. That's all I got fellas. In closing, consider the following prayer. Listen to it attentively, give voice to it. You need to hear yourself forgive yourself! There is great power in the spoken word!
Let us pray -
Dear Heavenly Father, I understand that there is nothing to gain by men holding ourselves in unforgiveness. I further understand there is everything to gain by releasing ourselves from unforgiveness and beginning the process of healing.
Father, I want every man to move forward and at this moment make a positive difference in his future. I call on Your power Father that through Your Holy Spirit these men can both start and finish forgiving themselves in the same breath!
I confess Lord on behave of myself and all my brothers that the ungodly accountability, self-humiliation, the vows we made to never forgive ourselves, to always remember our faults, and walk with our minds always remembering the shame; I confess for us all that our thoughts are wrong and not aligned with Your love for us.
So, we cast these thoughts and unrighteous self-beliefs to the feet of Jesus to be crushed by His soles never to be seen again.
Because Jesus died for our sins, why choose to carry burdens? I choose to forgive myself --- to no longer punish myself --- or be angry with myself.
Men, the time is now, right now, forgive yourselves for letting this hurt control you and for hurting others out of this pain.
Father, we repent of this behavior and attitude. We ask for Your forgiveness and healing. We turn away from this sin to never return to it. We stand united as men, as Your children, and as fathers of our children, we serve them as examples of humility and strength.
Help us to NEVER again retain unforgiveness of ourselves or others. Thank you for loving us and for Your grace to move forward with You.
Jesus! What a wonderful name it is, nothing compares to Him. What a beautiful name it is! In Jesus' Name we pray -
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Scripture
1 John 3:19-20
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."
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