This is what God spoke to me a few nights ago. It really changed my perspective on a lot of things, and I don't think it's just for me.
God on Forgiveness
April 22, 2009
My love, there are a few things I need you to know about forgiveness. First, it is a joy for me to forgive you. I know you can’t wrap your mind around it, darling, but it’s true. I love to forgive you because it breaks down the walls that separate us. You are my beloved. Hear that, child and believe! I want to be near you. I want to be with you. I want to dwell in you! You are so precious to Me, and while your sins break my heart, it brings me the greatest joy to look on you in love, grace, and mercy. As you kneel before Me in repentance, I forget your sins, sweep you up off your knees and into my arms, kiss your tears away, and whisper Truth and Love into your very heart. Can you see it, dearest? My smile? It is truly a JOY for Me to forgive you, to cleanse you from all of your mistakes! It is an essential part of who I am: Love. It brings glory and honor to My name, for in your weakness, my strength shines. Most of all, it restores you to Me. You’re in My arms again.
Another thing, dear one, I know how difficult it is to grow up, no matter hold old you are or what stage you are at in life. I know that the stretching and the shaping and the molding are painful. I know life seems to get more and more burdensome and complicated and taxing. I know it makes you long for the joys of childhood, the innocence, the freedom, the affection, the simplicity, the love you received rather than gave constantly. You must realize, dearest, that I will forever call you My child. I have chosen and adopted you, and in my Spirit, you can always find innocence and freedom, love and affection, simplicity and peace. Even those who had their childhood stolen from them and never experienced any of these things are able to find them in Me today.
Finally My darling, I know you. I know your weaknesses and your shortcomings and your greatest struggles. I still love you with a limitless love! You are covered in the blood of My Son whom I sent for YOU. You have nothing to prove to Me. There are no expectations you need to strive to reach. You merely need to surrender to My love. Allow it to transform your heart, mind, and life and lead you into a deeper love for Me. Child, abide in Me and My love for you. That’s all you need to do. Yes, it does require work: diving into My Word, dying to yourself daily, becoming conscious of My presence in your everyday life, committing yourself to follow Me each day, spending time with Me, sacrifice. Still, I can promise you that it is well worth it, and moreover, I promise to walk each step with you and give you the strength you need. Child, stop clenching your fists so tightly and simply take My hand! You will stumble, yes. You will fail. I know. You are learning! I promise to pick you up in forgiveness and to love you always. Remember, it is My joy to forgive and lift you up again. I love to come to your rescue! Now, My love, My blessed one, My favored one, My adopted and chosen one, My forgiven one, My redeemed one, My child… forgive yourself as I have forgiven you. Let go! I love you!
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” ~Ephesians 1:4-10
