You know as well as I do that in life sometimes we get knocked down; Sometimes we mess up, fall short, sin and act in the flesh. The feelings of condemnation and guilt can be very strong overwhelming at times like these! It’s moments like these that it would seem easier to just give up and quite! However that is the opposite of what we should do. At that very moment God wants you to come to Him for MERCY, GRACE, and HELP! (Hebrews 4:16) We are to come to Him in our weakest and most trying times. Don’t go by what you feel; act on the Word of God. Be honest before God and talk openly with Him about your problems. My dad, Pastor Jim Overbaugh has a saying, “If you mess up, fess up, and get up!” What does that mean? If we make a mistake we need to confess it God and to the people we hurt our did harm to. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now we need to FORGIVE OURSELVES and move on. Seems like the hardest part is that last part, but since God forgave you, you need to forgive yourself! Philippians 3:13 says “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are before.” There is NO CONDEMNATION to those who belong to Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:1) and you are a NEW CREATURE in Christ Jesus. The old is passed away and all things are new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) FORGET PAST MISTAKES and HURTS and MOVE ON to the next big thing God has for you! Don’t let the past hold you back or dictate your future!
By: Steven Overbaugh