FORGIVENESS AND FORGIVEN

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1

You are forgiven! Forgiving yourself is a BIG piece of ALL three freedoms. What is "forgiveness"? My definition is “to let yourself out of prison”. The freedom to love yourself. The freedom to know and understand that you are accepted and significant. Each one of us have made some choices in our lives that we are not proud of. Some of the choices may bring with them shame and condemnation. Well, we have the EXACT same testimony because I KNOW some of my choices have. The good news for each one of us is Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.

The dictionary defines forgiveness as:

1) The act of excusing a mistake or offense.

2) Compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive.

Forgiveness = Freedom

You have to choose to excuse your own mistakes or offenses. You have to choose to be compassionate  and willing to forgive yourself. You cannot walk in the 3 freedoms above without forgiving yourself first. When you walk in unforgiveness, you are continuously replaying and experiencing the offense or choice. Even if you try and put it out of your mind. You may not realize it but this is what happens when we choose not to forgive ourselves. You have walked into an invisible prison cell in your mind and heart. You have closed and locked the door behind you and sat down. You have built up a wall of protection for yourself. You have planned and purposed in your mind to stay awhile. The deceptive part is we do not realize what we have just done. (I know I did not realize it for many, many years.) You can feel this way for hours, months, or years but it is totally up to you. Especially, if you are the sort of person to hold a grudge. I did not know I was that sort of person but found out that I was. It took God to show me. HE can show you as well and set you free because HE did it for me. Isaiah 61:1



We can hold onto things that God is trying to remove from our lives that are killing us. We have to choose to forgive ourselves for the mistakes or choices we have willingly made. Here are some of mine I have shared before in previous posts:

• I was the one who was searching out compliments from men like drugs because I felt like I needed validation from someone else. (acceptance)
• I got married the first time because I was a people-pleaser and felt like marriage would fix me.  (looking for love)
• I got pregnant because I was seeking to fill the void within me. (significance)

What do you know of forgiveness? I knew I had to ask God and HE would forgive me because of Jesus Christ and the Cross. I John 1:11 - 12 I believed that part of it but the hard part for me was forgiving myself. I always seemed to blame myself for things that went wrong in my life. I played the "blame game" very well. The blame game is equal to prisons in different areas of our lives and minds. I internalized EVERYTHING. It was ALL my fault. Therefore, God could not really love or accept me because of ALL my sins. These were lies I had believed for years.

TESTIMONY: God has forgiven me for my compliment addiction. God has forgiven me for asking HIM to abort my unborn child (I had a miscarriage). God has forgiven me for not loving myself. God has forgiven me for honoring the devil more than I did HIM. God has forgiven me for comparing myself to others. God has forgiven me for trying to fill the void in my own life with other things other than HIM. I have FORGIVEN myself of all of the above things which is the second part of forgiveness. You have to choose to forgive you!

1. YOU ARE FORGIVEN TODAY!!! (I John 1: 11 -12)
2. YOU ARE LOVED TODAY!!! (Jeremiah 31:3)
3. YOU ARE ACCEPTED TODAY!!! (Ephesians 1: 5 - 6)
4. YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT TODAY!!! (Genesis 1:26)

I am praying for you that you stop believing the lies of the enemy and start believing the truth of who God  has created you to be. You are wonderfully complex and marvelous to God Psalm 139:13 - 18. You are forgiven! GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU TODAY!!! Please FORGIVE YOURSELF!!! It is my prayer that something you read has and will touch your heart to accept Jesus Christ today, if you have not already, as Your  Personal Lord and Savior. Romans 10: 9 -10

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I thank you for showing me that I am forgiven right now by my Father, God. I am choosing to forgive myself and accept God's forgiveness. Thank you in advance for changing my thought processes about me and You.

QUESTION:

Have you accepted God's forgiveness of your past and present sins? 

What lies have you believed about God's
forgiveness of your sins?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

Please share a comment or email me privately at

womenofvalour15@gmail.com

LOVED, ACCEPTED, SIGNIFICANT

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1



You are loved! You are accepted! You are significant! Do you believe these 3 statements about yourself? It is a choice to believe or not to believe it about you. Only you can make the choice. If you do not believe it then you are believing a lie about yourself. I can say this because for many, many, many years I did not believe it about myself. This applies to the believers and the unbelievers. Jesus gave HIS life for ALL of us to walk in these 3 freedoms. But it is a choice you have to make.

You are LOVED! (Jeremiah 31:3) As human beings, we desire love. As women, we seek out love and many times in all the wrong places. Your Father wants you to believe that HE LOVES YOU!!!

God had to first get me to believe that I am loved by HIM. HE had to build my trust in HIM as my Father. I had a couple of issues with God as my Father because I viewed Him through tainted lenses, my viewpoint. I did not know my biological father so God placed a step father in my life who loved me unconditionally. But I was sooooo damaged on the inside that I could not fully receive the gift of love he was offering me. I know God sent him to show me an example. God uses people to show us HIS love for us many times. Are there people in your life that wants to love on you? But you won't allow them because of the damage that has been done to you mentally or physically.

Repeat this statement and God's Words over and over again until the lies you believe bow to the truth:

God loves ME with an everlasting love.  (Jeremiah 31:3)

God loves ME and chose ME in Christ. (Ephesians 1:4)

You are ACCEPTED! (Ephesians 1:5 - 6) The word "accepted" means to take or receive (something offered); receive with approval or favor. Your Father, God, has accepted you with approval and favor. His acceptance is NOT based on what you did yesterday, today, or not even this minute. He accepts you and I because we are HIS children.

I kept getting this concept mixed up because I believed and felt like I had to earn HIS acceptance. But the truth is I just had to receive it as a gift from HIM hands to my mind and heart. I was confused that my sins were me and I were my sins. Our Father can and does separate the sin from HIS child. HE loves and accepts you but does not approve of the sin you commit. Let me break it down like this: A normal child disobeys a rule. The parent will talk to and/or discipline the child. The parent still loves and accepts the child even though the parent does not like or accept the behavior. God does the exact same thing with each one of us.

Repeat this statement and God's Words over and over again until the lies you believe bow to the truth:

 God has adopted ME and made ME accepted. (Ephesians 1:5-6)

You are SIGNIFICANT! (Genesis 1:26) The word "significance" means important and of consequence. You are significant and important to your Father, God. First HE created you and then HE chooses to wake you up everyday with a fresh and new start. HE woke you up this morning. This means you are significant. You may question "why" because of the crazy and messed up things that may be going on in or around you. But the truth is no one can be you but you. No one can walk your path but you.

I know because I used to question "why" ALL the time. I would lay in bed not wanting to get up because what purpose would I serve within any given day. But My Father and yours showed me that I am a benefit added to this great big world. HE is the ONE that would and still do wake me up every morning. But now instead of asking "why" I say "I am looking forward to seeing what you are going to do today"!

Repeat this statement and God's Words over and over again until the lies you believe bow to the truth:

I am significant and important to God because HE created me. (Genesis 1: 26)

 

I can ONLY thank God that I am NOW walking in the truth. I AM LOVED! I AM ACCEPTED! I AM SIGNIFICANT! God has shown me the way to walk in this FREEDOM!!! It is my prayer that HE opens your heart and mind to BELIEVE AND KNOW the same.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I thank you for showing me that I am loved, accepted, and significant right now to my Father, God. I am choosing to believe this as my truth instead of the lies. Thank you in advance for changing my thought processes about me and You.

QUESTION:

Is God's love, acceptance, and significance settled within you? 

What lies have you believed about God's love,
acceptance, and significance toward you?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

Please share a comment or email me privately at

womenofvalour15@gmail.com

CLEANING UP FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1

 

How do you clean your home? One room at a time. Some rooms you spend more time in than others. It depends on how dirty or cluttered it is to you. But when you really clean your home you start in one room or level and then go to another. Jesus does the exact same thing with us. HE cleans us up one area at a time. Although, I know sometimes it may seems like HE is cleaning the entire house at one time.

As children of God, together our bodies are the temple of God and HE comes to live on the inside of us through the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3:16). HE comes in to do house cleaning. He does not come into chaos for it to remain chaotic. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives replace the chaos with peace and order. So, HE gives us some immediate blessings. We can just think about a prayer and God manifests the answer. We pray and HE answers. God is building a relationship with us so that we can trust HIM to take care of us. The same God who created you and I wants an intimate relationship with each one of us.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior many different times in my life. I would walk a couple of steps with HIM and get the instant gratification of blessings. This would put me on cloud nine. Then a problem, trial, or tribulation would happen and I would revert back to my same ways of dealing with or handling problems. I would shut the world out and deal with things internal on my own. Or I would go to my friends to get their take on the situation. Just as I had done before but neither of these produced peace, joy, love, or freedom in my life. I was doing the same things and expecting a different result; which is insanity.

TESTIMONY: When problems would arise that were hard to deal with or conquer I would revert back. My familiar was easier to deal with than dealing with the reality of the situation. I did not go to my pastor or another Christian. Why? Honestly, I really did NOT want to change but I wanted the blessings to continue. I also did not want them to know my business. I did not want them to know just how broken I was inside. I was "blessed and highly favored" to the church folk but I was dying on the inside. It was because I chose to wear a mask. My experience was they would talk about me when I shared. The pastor would preach on what I had shared. So, church was not a true refuge for me.

I have since discovered that all churches are NOT the same. Just like all church folk and people are NOT the same. PLEASE don't write off ALL because of the one or couple of bad experiences you have had. Believe me, I truly understand that the familiar ways to deal with things are easier. People and things around you come against you when you choose to walk the godly path. That is hard because you are used to them being there even if they are not good for you. But God has something better for you. HE truly changes us from the inside out. Our thoughts and heart need to be changed or cleansed to receive ALL that God has for us, one room at a time.

The rooms the Holy Spirit wanted to clean inside of me were bitterness, unforgiveness, self-hatred, feelings of not being loved, procrastination, brokenness, lust, loneliness, negative attitude, etc. These are only a few. HE is still cleaning me up from the inside out. What rooms does God want to clean within your life?  Will you waver by asking others or trust God to get you through the situations and circumstances of your life?

This song blesses me and I pray it does the same for you. This is what God has done for each one of us.



Link to Video: https://youtu.be/V4lL24iLwI4







Prayer: Holy Spirit, clean me up from the inside out. Show me what rooms I need to turn over to you, Lord. Help me to stay and allow You to clean me from the inside out.

QUESTION:

Will you allow God to cleanse you

 from the inside out? 

What rooms do you believe God is trying

to clean in your life?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

Please share a comment or email me privately at

womenofvalour15@gmail.com

ARE YOU STILL THANKFUL?

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1

Thanksgiving, the holiday, is over. My question is: Are you still thankful? There are other questions I can ask as well like: Did you enjoy the day? Was it a blessing or more like a curse for you? Did you gain more weight to add to what you already feel like you need to lose? Did your family love on each other or fight? Do you just go right into Christmas preparation and all of the frustrations that comes with trying to find the right gift? No matter what your answer is to any of these questions. We need to still be thankful not just on a particular day but EVERY DAY!!!!  

I Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances; 

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

The message at church today was: "Lord, I thank you". As I sat there listening to the message, I got inspired and started to form this poem in my mind. I thought about the things I am still thankful for.

 Lord, I thank You...

By Andrea Monroe

Lord, I thank you for the breath in my body.

Lord, I thank you for keeping me in my right mind.

Lord, I thank you for eyes to see.

Lord,I thank you for ears to hear.

Lord, I thank you for a mouth to speak.

Lord, I thank you for my home you have provided.

Lord, I thank you for the car that I drive.

Lord, I thank you for the job you have provided.

Lord, I thank you for food in the refrigerator.

Lord , I thank you for clothes on my back and shoes on my feet.

Lord, I thank you for my loving and supportive husband who you gave me.
Lord, I thank you for my amazingly dysfunctional family.
Lord, I thank you for my wonderful friends who push and pull me to do my best.
Lord, I thank you for my coworkers who work together as a team.
Lord, I thank you for my enemies who keep me on my toes.

Lord, I thank you for loving me more than I will ever know.

Lord, I thank you for your mercy which are new every day.

Lord, I thank you for your grace which I do not deserve.

Lord, I thank you for your healing touch when I am sick.

Lord, I thank you for forgiveness of my sins and me forgiving others.

Lord, I thank you for saving my lost soul.

Lord, I thank you for cleaning me up from the inside out.

Lord, I thank you for giving me a new song to sing.

Lord, I thank you for giving me a new heart.

Lord, I thank you for loving on others through me.

Lord, I thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who saved me.

Lord, I thank you for the Holy Spirit who teaches me.

Lord, I thank you for being my Father who provides, protects, and loves me

Lord, I thank you for never giving up on me.

Lord, I thank you for always being there for me.

We have been given a gift of love from our Father. Will you receive the gift which is being offered this day to you? If you have not accepted HIS FREE GIFT, you can pray today. Lord, I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. I speak with my mouth that Jesus is LORD according to Romans 10: 9 -10. If you prayed this simple prayer you NOW have Someone who has come into your heart to show you everything you have to be thankful for. 

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Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the blessings you have given me. Teach me to be thankful for each one of them. Teach me how to speak life and not death in my own life. Show me that YOU REALLY are speaking to me in areas in my life. Give me the boldness to be obedient to act on YOUR directions.

QUESTION:

Are you still thankful?

What are some things you are still thankful for?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

Please share a comment or email me privately at

womenofvalour15@gmail.com

THANKFUL TODAY

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1

I am thankful today for Jesus saving, loving, protecting, and caring for me continually. It is almost Thanksgiving  Day according to the time and calendar. But this post can be used throughout the year as a reminder. I say "we" because I need a reminder as well. We can get discouraged and\or hardhearted when we have been fighting a battle for a long time without an end in sight. But I am here to tell you that there is LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL not just at the end. God loves you and is in the midst of the battle with you. Read Psalm 103 (NLT)  it gives us a GREAT picture of God's love for us and reasons why we should be thankful today.

If you can take just a moment of your time and choose to refocus. I KNOW you have a list of things to be thankful for just like me. Here is my list:

1)  Life - The Lord woke me up this morning to see a brand new day. 

2) Husband - God gave me an AMAZING man that loves me and pulls the best out of me.

3) Family - God placed me in a family that showed me how to love, pray, and survive in the world around me. 

4) Friends - God placed friends in my life who support the good things and correct me when I am wrong.

5) Job - God provided my job where I am at peace although I am being stretched right now.

6) Home - God provided a place of sanctuary, peace, and protection from the elements for me.

7) Clothes - God provided  me with clothes on my back and shoes on my feet.

8) Car - God provided the car that I drive each day.

9) Food - God provided the food that I eat at each meal daily.

10) Health - God has kept my body and mind healthy in my body and mind healthy.

NOTE: I was looking for a thankful song to go along with this post. I had not heard this particular Mary Mary song. But I listened to it over and over again. I pray it puts you in a thankful mode as well. Enjoy!!!

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/L7Ocvlnj90U

We have to choose to be thankful for ALL the blessings we have received today and every day. During the holidays, I know you may get or become depressed. You may believe your reason is a great one BUT there is another perspective to choose. Choose to look around you at ALL that you have instead of looking and living internal to yourself. 

TESTIMONY: Believe me when I say that Thanksgiving through Christmas were my least favorite times of year. Everybody was soooooo happy. At least that is the way it seemed to me and  I was dying on the inside. There was nobody to listen to me. But then when I get real with myself, I never told anyone how I was feeling or what I was thinking. I put on many masks and kept EVERY painful memory and thought process buried deep inside of me. This was NOT healthy for me and it is NOT healthy for you. 

You might say, this is just a list of the basics. There are sooooo many people without the basics. There are also soooooo many people with the basics and cannot or do not recognize them. But without the basic things on this list I would be homeless, naked, an orphan, lonely, sick, and most importantly dead. I need my LIFE and so do you. There are people around you that need you to be here and present this holiday season and the entire year. You can choose to look for resources to help you through what ever you are going through. If you have a phone with internet you have resources available at your fingertip. GET HELP!!! Don't do it alone because this is where the enemy gets his victory. The Lord gets HIS victory when you expose the lies you have believed to HIS truth and believe what HE is saying about you. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the blessings you have given me in the basics of my life. Teach me to be thankful for each one of them. Teach me how to speak life and not death in my own life. Show me that YOU REALLY are speaking to me in areas in my life. Give me the boldness to be obedient to act on YOUR directions.

QUESTION:

Are you thankful for the basics in your life today?

What are some things you are thankful for today?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

Please share a comment or email me privately at

womenofvalour15@gmail.com