WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
In 2023, we’re going to be focusing on who God says we are. I’ve sat down a few times to write this focus, but each time I came up with a way to approach this first one I didn’t have peace and I knew I was to wait. Until this morning…
“Dang it, I screwed up again.” I thought to myself. You see, I made a large mistake at work. I’m the one responsible for ordering all of the coffee beans we sell. I order all of the beans for our brewed coffees along with all of the espresso we use for our hand-crafted lattes and cappuccinos. I completely underestimated our need for coffee for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. We were almost out of our espresso. It’s a big deal to run low or run out. The situation I found myself in this morning didn’t affect just me. It had the potential to affect the rest of our staff, both our downtown and drive-thru locations, and all of our guests.
I didn’t communicate what I needed to communicate soon enough which made the situation worse. After I did communicate, I carried a heavy anvil around my neck. Imprinted on that heavy weight were words like “screw up”, “failure”, and “idiot.” As Sheila and I sat together at the coffee shop, she kept asking me if I was okay, as I was wearing those labels on my face and demeanor. I couldn’t shake that feeling knowing the severity of my mistake. We sat in the booth playing Bananagrams, but I couldn’t focus. I sat there and prayed to my Heavenly Father and asked him to lift the heaviness from my heart and to forgive me for my part in it.
Then it happened.
The Holy Spirit reminded me of something that happened just after that. He took me to the conversations I had with the two people I communicated with earlier that morning when I shared what was going on. There were three words that both individuals said without hesitation that I had lost sight of. Those words are such powerful words. Those words can bring freedom and break the chains of what hold us down.
“I forgive you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled their words. The heavy weight that I felt around my neck was no longer holding me down. I felt uplifted and encouraged. As uplifting as that reminder was, the next one is even more. My Father in Heaven, the God who created the heavens and the earth has forgiven me as well. But not just for this one circumstance, but for all of my sins, because of my faith in Jesus Christ.
Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48, CSB)
I can’t put it all here, but I would encourage you to read Luke 7:36-50. I just read it again and it ministered to my heart. It is a fantastic story of forgiveness and a promise that He has for every one of us who place our faith in Him. As we put our faith in our Heavenly Father and recognize that He has forgiven sin after sin after sin after sin, when we go to Him in repentance; our faith in and love for God will grow.
Are there some names that you’ve given yourself that you can’t shed? You cannot do it on your own. Ask our Holy Father to remove them. If you need to ask for forgiveness, it doesn’t have to be daunting. It can be as simple as praying, “Father, I’m sorry for what I did. Would you forgive me?” You can also ask the Spirit to stir heavily within you especially in this area so when a similar situation may arise again, you are prepared.
Some of the names we call ourselves cover-up names that Christ himself puts on us that we lose sight of. This year we’re going to look at who God says we are. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I lose sight of those names in the midst of my circumstances.
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50, CSB)
1. What about you? Are you sitting in the muck of a situation? Is the enemy trying to keep you weighted down with the lie that you’re a screw-up, a loser or anything similar? Take heart, those chains can be broken. Simply ask Him to forgive you for your situation and ask Him to strengthen you.
2. I would encourage you to spend some quiet time with our Father and ask Him if there are any lies that you are believing about who you are. He is faithful to reveal those. Once revealed, rebuke the lie by praying, “I rebuke the lie that I am _______________. I know my Father has forgiven me and loves me.”
