May 16

Step 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
May 16

Recommended Reading Psalm 32 and Mark 5

In Drs. Dale and Juanita Ryan’s bible study called, Recovery From Guilt, which you can find at www.christianrecovery.com, they speak of the two reasons why we need to admit the truth about ourselves to ourselves. “First, admitting our wrongs to ourselves means that we are no longer deceiving ourselves. This admission involves embracing parts of ourselves that we have rejected. It involves a complex process of integrating what some have called the shadow parts of ourselves into our self understanding. Second, admitting our wrongs to ourselves means that we need to show mercy to ourselves. We need to stop demanding perfection and face our human failings with the same compassion for ourselves that God extends toward us.” (p.5)
I wonder what’s lurking in your shadows, waiting to be exposed to God’s warm and gracious light.

Thought for today: Have you ever thought it odd that God forgives you but you refuse to forgive yourself? What does that mean? Would that imply that you’re more just then God? (That can’t be the answer…) So what does it mean that it’s ok for God to extend forgiveness but for us to refuse to extend it to ourselves?

Thought for tomorrow: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:19-21 NIV

It’s a common complaint. “I just can’t forgive _______ .” So we sigh and move along the same dark paths. It’s just too much, too hard, this forgiveness gig. But pause to prepare. Stop and reread John 3. Read that last sentence over and over until you see it. Do you? When you forgive – whether it is yourself or someone else IT ISN’T YOU DOING IT AT ALL!!!!! God is doing it through you. And the facts are in – God is in the forgiveness business – He knows how to do it and He practices what He hopes we’re preaching. Admission moves us closer to forgiveness.

May 16
Teresa McBean