I recently was confronted with unforgiveness in my heart. My response was, “Me?” As we grow closer to the Lord, He will allow unresolved issues of the heart to surface in due time. It was time to face issues I had swept under the rug for years. I found myself paralyzed, emotionally and mentally, as if these offenses had just happened. There was no way I could bring these skeletons out of my closet by verbalizing them. Instead, I chose an exercise I had read about from a book on forgiveness.
I would write each offense, no matter how small, on 3X5 cards and lay it in front of me. Confessing each hurt and pain, I would then cover each card with a 3×5 piece of red felt representing the blood of Jesus and HIS power over sin. I would say aloud, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Then, the Lord graciously gave me understanding through the words of Charles Spurgeon: “The mental pressure from our Lord’s agony forced the pores of His body to “sweat” great drops of blood. The tremendous weight of sin crushed our Savior in a demonstration of the mighty power of His Love! Christ suffered willingly. When people suffer greatly, the blood rushes inwardly to their heart; their face becomes pale and they frequently faint. But our Savior, instead of his agony driving His blood to His heart to nourish his body, it flowed outwardly to minister to US. The agony of Christ as His blood flowed to the ground, pictures the fullness of the supreme sacrifice, shedding of blood for our wretched souls.”
What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus!
~Cindy Danenhower
Christ Fellowship