[Membersandfriends] Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Mon Sep 6 22:02:13 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Tuesday, September 07, 2004

_________________________

Free Catalog of Upper Room Books

View all Upper Room Books at a glance with The Upper Room's annual comprehensive catalog.  To receive a free catalog, via postal mail, visit:
http://www.upperroom.org/store/order_catalog.asp?ep_id=210
_________________________

FORGIVE YOURSELF
_________________________

Ezekiel 36:24-30 (NRSV)

I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleannesses, and I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field abundant, so that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.

_________________________

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 1 John 1:9 (NRSV)
_________________________

DURING a misunderstanding with a fellow worker, I spoke in haste, my voice rising.  Immediately, my conscience convicted me, and I felt remorse as I walked away.  In shame and embarrassment, I hurried back to her.  "Please forgive me," I pleaded through my tears.

"I forgive you," she replied softly.

Thankful for her forgiveness, I retreated to my office, but I couldn't shake what I had done.  How could I have done that?  I asked myself.  What kind of person am I?  Dear Lord, I am so sorry I talked to her like that!  I punished myself the rest of the week.  Then on Sunday morning, the pastor's words shook me into reality:  "Not only must we ask forgiveness; we must accept forgiveness ourselves.  We are all sinners, saved by grace."

My friend had forgiven me, and God had forgiven me.  "Now I forgive me too," I said aloud.  That statement liberated me.  Confessing my sin and making a new start gives me determination to speak softly and turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1) the next time I have a misunderstanding.  Knowing that God forgives me and "will remember [my] sins no more" (Jer. 31:34) enables me to forgive myself and move on with my life.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, forgive us for wrong words spoken. Help us to forgive those who have hurt us and to forgive ourselves.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Ask to be forgiven today.  Then forgive yourself.

-- Joan Clayton (New Mexico, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those overcome by guilt

_________________________

RELATED READING ...

In her latest book, FORGIVENESS, THE PASSIONATE JOURNEY, Flora Wuellner writes to help us learn new ways to forgive others and ourselves.  In this most timely offering,  Wuellner  uncovers answers to why forgiveness seems much more difficult today by exploring the Beatitudes and Jesus' vision of peace and healing.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=54377

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

_________________________

QUESTIONS?  If you reply to this e-mail, you'll receive an automated message answering our readers' most frequently asked questions.  If your question remains unanswered, please write to us at the special "help" e-mail address you'll find in the automated message.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.upperroom.org/unsubscribe/

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Log in, using your current e-mail address and password. Once logged in your account, click on the "Edit Personal Information" link. Edit your e-mail address and any other information, and click "Update" to complete the change.

FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSWORD? Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Click on "Forgot My Password." Enter your e-mail address, and if there is a password associated with it, the password will be e-mailed to you immediately.
_________________________

The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.