Hey there!
“Hope is the melody of the future. Faith is dancing to that melody right now” (p. 150, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget).
These words Lysa shares from her counselor, Jim Cress, resonate deep in my soul! Here yet again — a dancing reference from the Lord, just like He gave me back in Week 1.
I looked up the definition of "dancing" on Google, and here’s what I found. It means to “move rhythmically to music, typically following a sequence of steps.”
Immediately after reading that, Matthew 11:28-30 came to my mind; specifically, this part from The Message paraphrase:
“Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
Forgiveness can be heavy — it can be hard — but it isn't for us to carry the weight of. God says to come to Him, all who are weary, and He will teach us how to step with Him in the rhythm of His grace. We don’t have to do this alone; He’s there to carry the heavy load for us. I can imagine Him whispering to each of our hearts: “Keep going, daughter; there is beauty for your ashes just up ahead. Don’t quit even when it’s hard, because freedom is for you.”
God has given us freedom from our past sins through His forgiveness. As we learn His ways and walk in step with Him, extending forgiveness towards others, there’s a resurrection that happens inside of us. New life — what a beautiful gift!
Can you see it up ahead for you? Can you close your eyes and believe it’s for you? Right now, I’m praying that as you read this next verse, something shifts inside your soul and you have hope again because of Jesus:
“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments” (Psalm 119:45, NLT).
I encourage you to say this out loud or write this verse down and claim it for yourself, even if you’re not there yet: I will walk in freedom.
Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness. I ask for Your strength to rise up in us as we move forward. Thank You in advance for the freedom we will all walk in. In Jesus’ name.
Yes and Amen,
Angela
Heart to Heart:
What does freedom look like for you? How does this verse encourage you to keep moving forward?
Last night on our P31 OBS Facebook page, we had Bible Study LIVE at the Table! We watched this video (above) together and then had a discussion around some of the questions found in the Study Guide. No Facebook? No problem! You can access the video here, even if you don't have an account! See you at the Table!