Forgiveness, Oh What a Feeling 1

I have entitled my blog, "Walking with God relieves stress". This statement is so truth. When we walk close with God, what do we have to fear? One lesson that I have learned over time is as His child, when I walk hand in hand with God, there is one lesson He keeps teaching me, and that is the lesson of forgiveness. If you think about it, when one truly begins their walk with God, the walk begins with forgiveness. There was a time in which I recognized that in my self I was not good but rather an "enemy" to a holy, just, and perfect God (Rom. 5:10). How does an enemy of God get unto heaven? How does one clothed in sinful flesh stand in the presence of a holy God? Well, I cannot stand on my own merit before a holy, just, and perfect God! I must walk on my knees in humility, and humble myself before His presence and cry out for His mercy and forgiveness of my sin. Then and only then can I be made whole through His perfect love and forgiveness. Forgiveness meets all humanity at the foot of the cross.

Since my decision to follow Christ, He has freely forgiven me of my sins, and now the burden of sin has been released, and I walk in victory - talk about relieving horrible stress. Yet, the journey does not end there, for our walk is filled with moments, before God and man, in which we will need to seek forgiveness. King David writes in Psalms 32:1-7 of his own personal experience with sin, and the difference between an unforgiven and forgiven heart. Let me note four brief points: First, forgiven sin produces true happiness (32:1-2). Second, unconfessed sin produces great sorrow (32:3-4). Third, confessed sin produces instant relief (32:5-6). Fourth, forgiven sin produces true happiness (32:1-2,7). I can sum up those four points with one sentence: "Immediate confession of our sin to God is a vital part of maintaining a joyful and victorious Christian life." In other words, when we daily seek God's forgiveness from sin that is in our lives, His forgiveness bring instant joy and happiness that in turn will produce a "less stressed life!" Who in this world would not want to feel this way? Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.