There have been some terrible things happen to me in my life; however, I also have made many many mistakes of which the responsibility rests completely on me. I have a past of which I am not proud. Poor choices have caused me much heartache and the consequences of those decisions will follow me around. However, I am forgiven of my past! The grace that God has shown me overwhelms me and I cannot find the words to explain how I feel. In church one Sunday, the following scripture was read. I felt like I was hearing my story. I was once again reminded of God’s forgiveness and could not stop the tears that flowed. As a woman with much to forgive, I believe I realize more fully the magnitude of the grace of God and what it means for me.

If you have a past that you aren’t proud of and struggle with forgiving yourself, read each of these words carefully, as if it was about you. Let Jesus’ words sink in and wash over you like a fresh breath of air. 

A Sinful Woman Forgiven: Luke 7: 36-48

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Thank you Jesus for your deliverance! I give you the glory for the place I am today in my life. I give you the glory for the deliverance of my oppression as well as my own sins. I pray that I will never again return to the depths of sin that I resided in for so long. Because of Your love for me, I will serve You all the rest of my days. Please protect me and keep me from being deceived.

I know that where I have been allows me to be in a place now that I can help others and I pray that you use my painful past to guide others to You. I am chosen by You to be Your daughter. Thank you for making something beautiful out of something so very ugly.

You are the One true God who has the power to save us from a life of repetitive mistakes and sinful nature. When I fall, help me up. When I succeed, help me to give You the glory. In everything I do, may I always seek You and point others to You. Despite my pain, THANK YOU. I do not know how I would handle life without You. You give me reason to live and purpose and I love You from the depths of my heart.

Cleanse me and make me whole. Help me see others through Your eyes and be patient and graceful. I praise You for being the God of second and third and fourth chances. I praise You for never leaving me nor forsaking me.

Remind me of my worth in You. Remind me of my beautiful soul and help me to in turn encourage others in their walk with You. You are my reason to live and I pray Your love radiates through me like a beacon of light in a dark world. I pray Your grace flows through me like a free flowing river of hope. I want to serve you in all I do and I need You to show me the way. Your child forever,

Angie