"Tell them they can be forgiven."
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~ 1 John 1:9
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ~ James 5:16
In a difficult season of life the Lord showed me things I needed to confess and seek forgiveness about. I realized the magnitude of grief I had caused Him. I was in anguish over my sin against God and others. I felt much regret for the wretchedness of my decisions and their ripple effect. Immediately after confessing my sin, God opened my eyes to the realization of how hard I fell for Satan's deceptions and was in agonizing tears over it. In all my tears, the Lord whispered something to me I will never forget:
"Tell them they can be forgiven."
No matter how horrific the sin, you can be forgiven. No matter how often you committed it, if you turn away from it, and sincerely seek God's forgiveness, you can be forgiven. No matter how dirty, shameful and broken you feel, I promise you that God wants to forgive you, redeem you and restore you. He is simply waiting for you to ask in humble sincerity for Him to do it.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other alternative. Wholehearted relationship with Him and a life of obedience to Him is the only way that leads to life on this earth as well as eternal life in Heaven. Jesus said: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." This isn't a suggestion. It is the truth. The devil doesn't walk around in a black robe with a pitch fork. He only needs to offer you an alternative to the truth. It doesn't have to be vicious, morbid or hellish. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. He just has to offer an alternative option other than a life of total surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior to deceive someone. Satan will tell you ninety-nine truths to sell you one lie that will steal your soul for all eternity. Don't let him do it. Let today be the day God saves you.
A spiritual mentor who walked through that season of refinement with me wrote this prayer below. I share it for anyone who needs the hope of knowing God's forgiveness is real. This is why Jesus Christ died for you. To take the punishment you and I all deserve for our sin, so that we can be forgiven, cleansed and redeemed. We deserve the justice for our sin of eternity in Hell, but God made a way out for us. This is grace. This is mercy. We don't deserve it. But it is available if we ask for it. Just surrender. His arms are open if you do.
The Father's Love Letter:
Below is a link to a website with a video that touched my heart years ago. It is a compilation of bible verses said as if it is a letter from God to us. May it be a blessing to you as well! Find it on YouTube also.
Forgiveness & Salvation Prayer:
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ~ Romans 10:9
If you are ready to ask the Lord for forgiveness, this is your opportunity for a new beginning. Even if you are a Christian, but know your walk with the Lord needs to be corrected and made right, this prayer is also for you also. This is a serious decision. To be saved means to turn your back on your old life of emptiness, sin, and living your life the way you want. God wants you off the throne of your life and for Him to be on it. God doesn't want religion, He wants relationship.
This is your opportunity to move forward in hope and new life in Jesus Christ. This is being "born again". It is a spiritual birth. If you have not been born again, today is a great day to ask for it. It is not something to take lightly. Be ready to make a commitment to Christ as you would a marriage vow. God is sincere. He desires your whole heart. If you give it to Him, He will perform a miracle in you to change your heart to grow in unity, closeness and oneness with Him through the power of His Holy Spirit. He will transform you from the inside out if you let Him. If you choose to reject or neglect this opportunity and relationship God is offering you, He will honor your request. He is not an abuser and will not force you into relationship with Him. You will live a life without Him, His blessings and His protection forever. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. There are billions of people burning under our feet in Hell for all eternity wishing they heard the words "Repent and believe the gospel" one more time and took it seriously and actually sincerely repented.
Every religion under the sun and all the world says to change from the outside. Jesus Christ will change you from the inside out. It will cost you no money. His gift is free to all. He does not discriminate. But it will cost you your life - your old life. But if you surrender it all, make no mistake about it, you will know a peace that surpasses all understanding. You will be a new creature and God will reveal Himself to you. You can know God personally and intimately.
I don't want to spend forever with out you. This is why I have this page here for you. Confess this prayer from your lips to God's ears:
Dear Heavenly Father Yahweh,
I come to you in the name of your son The Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that you are the one and only true God. And your Son Jesus Christ is the Jewish savior of all mankind.
Heavenly Father it is my desire to be born again and born of your Holy Spirit and saved from my sin and the consequences of my sin.
I acknowledge that I am a sinner from birth and I am guilty of my own sin and disobedience.
I now repent of all my sins (be specific) and living for the practices of the world, Satan and the self-centered flesh nature and I ask your forgiveness for all my sins, past and present.
By faith I now turn away from all sin, living for myself, the world’s values and disobedience from your commandments. Please place my sin under the shed blood of your Son and my Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank you my Lord Jesus Christ for taking the punishment that I deserved and dying in my place on the cross of Calvary.
I thank you for purchasing my salvation with your sacrificial life in crucifixion and shedding your blood through which I believe I am cleansed from sin my past sins.
I Pray, Lord Jesus Christ, in the best way I know how I surrender my life to you, please come into my life and save me from my sin and the control of Satan over my life. I want to be born again and be filled with your Holy Spirt.
I choose now to live my life for You Heavenly Father and my Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and to do your will and embrace your purposes for my life.
I ask you to continue to teach me and reveal to me all my sin and by your grace (enablement) so I will turn away from it and overcome it with the help of your Holy Spirit.
By faith I now surrender my life to you, my Lord Jesus Christ and I desire to make you Lord of my life.
Thank you Heavenly Father for hearing my prayer and for saving me and redeeming my life.
I make all these requests in the name of my Savior the Lord Jesus the Christ, Amen.
If you have taken the time to say that prayer, welcome to the Family of God! Next is asking God to guide you to the Christian church He wants you in that teaches the bible and to get baptized. You need a church in order to have fellowship with other Christian's who can support you in this new life. You can not walk this walk alone. Always ask the Lord to guide you and for His help. Invite Him into everything you do in life. He wants to be there with you through it all.
Get a bible, read it daily, and do what it says. A great place to start is in the book of John. Then Matthew, Mark and Luke and the rest of the New Testament. Learn who Jesus Christ is and what He taught so you can follow Him well. Congratulations - you have just surrendered your life to the greatest leader the cosmos has ever known!