How Forgiveness Through Faith in Jesus is the Best Do-Over Ever
How often do you feel like you need a do-over?
An opportunity to try again?
Here’s a short list of some of the things I do that make me want a do-over:
- Words I’ve spoken that I’d like to inhale or say differently.
- Thoughts I’ve allowed to lead me down a path of discouragement.
- Procrastination that kept me from doing my best.
- Indulgences that failed to satisfy.
- Judgment I endorsed without kindness and compassion.
- Envy I contemplated when I should have simply counted my blessings
Okay, you get the idea!
I can definitely relate to Paul’s words…
I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans 7:19
You too!
It’s hard, isn’t it? Temptation and our own sinful nature always get in the way of our wanting to trust and obey God’s will perfectly.
By God’s grace, we know that even the apostles experienced this struggle.
Paul put it this way…
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
Romans 7:21
And he went on to add…
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
Romans 7:24
He knew he needed forgiveness and an opportunity to try again.
He needed forgiveness and a do-over!
And you and I need forgiveness and a do-over, too.
So we run to God in repentance asking Him for mercy and grace.
When we do, Paul tells us that God supplied the answer. Jesus!
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 7:25
[God] has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.
Colossians 1:22
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, through faith . . . we can come to the Father and He sees Jesus in us—holy, blameless and without a single fault.
Forgiveness through Jesus born out of God’s grace, mercy, and love is the ultimate do-over.
Let’s pause to thank and praise God for His amazing gift!
A Prayer Thanking God for His Mercy,
for Forgiveness, for Every Single Do-Over Given
Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life for me. Thank you for loving us all so much that you gave up the glories of heaven and came to the earth You created to live with those of us who are selfish and sinful to save us and show us a better way.
I humbly come before You, Lord, asking for Your forgiveness. I want to fully trust and obey Your perfect will. I want to follow Your better way. Yet, I’m so prone to weakness. Like Paul, I want to do what is good but I don’t. Please wash me clean. Please strengthen me and give me all I need to not give up or give in to temptation. Your Word says, that You will provide me “a way of escape and the ability to endure.”
You are so good and gracious. Please help me stay focused on You. Help me live every moment of my life with gratitude and love for all You have done and continue to do for me. Help me appreciate every day as an opportunity to try again . . . to get a do-over that I might love the way You want me to love.
Lord, I praise and thank you forever and ever. Amen.
Friend, I know that forgiveness does not always eliminate the consequences of our words and actions. We often still have to live out and work toward healing hurt relationships, jobs poorly done, and debts we owe.
But…
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
Psalm 103:8, 11–13
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to His children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
Will you join me? Let’s run to Him in repentance, appreciate every do-over, and worship Him with every breath.
May God be with you today and fill you with His peace, hope, and joy!
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Another great one, Deb! I don’t know how you keep coming up with all these different messages that are exactly what I need to hear! I need do overs daily! Sometimes hourly! And yet, I know that when I ask God to forgive me, He does. I ask His forgiveness continually for all my weaknesses. I feel so unworthy of all His patience and grace. But I know how much I love Him and how much I desire to always please Him, glorify and honor Him! My go to verse every morning and through out my day is Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Thank you, dear friend, for all the ways you are helping me to draw closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Love and hugs and blessings sweet Deb!!
???????? amen
I hear you, Kathy! I too feel unworthy of His faithful forgiveness and love. His daily grace and mercy draw us close every day. I love Psalm 19:14. It’s such a wonderful prayer to begin the day. God bless you and surround you with His love. Hugs!
Amen, Deb! I cannot begin to count how many do-overs I’ve needed, but I’m so very grateful to God that He gives us that opportunity time and time again.
Blessings!
Me too, Martha! His mercy and grace bless my heart and life every single day. God bless you, dear friend!
I’m speechless Deb, as you perfectly described my list of needs for the do-over. Goodness, as long as I can remember I wanted to start life all over, fresh again. Just to commit the same sins over and over again. This Paul quote is one of my biggest desperate cry to Jesus when I hit rock bottom. Yet, even when I don’t recognize it, Jesus reaches down, stands me up, dusts me off and gives a gentle push to move forward. I can’t even try to count my do-overs. My entire life is a do-over. The Lord lets me wander away, many times lets me even get to the edge of the ledge…but then grabs hold of my hand and lovingly guides me back to His path. So many times I wonder how is it possible for Him to love me, us??? I never paid with anything good to Him, I was only a smoke in His noze, angered Him, caused sorrow to the Lord….never anything good, or noteworthy…..yet He stood faithful to His covenant with me, and never withdrew His love. How is it possible???? If someone wrongs us, it’s either pretty much over, or will take a long time to win our trust back. But not with Jesus, not with our Heavenly Father….why?
And maybe Psalm 34 answers some of these questions –
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Thank you Jesus for Your endless love and mercy. And thank you my friend for keeping to introduce me to myself. All the blessings Deb ????????
Amen Gaby! Isaiah 59:1
BEHOLD, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Hallelujah Kathy ????❤️ I love that passage. How you doing sister?
I love Psalm 34. I took voice lessons years ago and my voice teacher always had me sing verse 8 as a warm-up exercise. The melody still plays through my heart years later. Our Lord is so very gracious and good. God bless you, my friend!
Thank you Deb and thank you Gaby and Kathy – great verses.
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