MISTAKES AND FALLING INTO SIN

There is always forgiveness and restoration in God because our Lord Jesus Christ made it possible through His death and resurrection. We will all make mistakes, commit willful sin, give in to temptation, or make wrong decisions because we are all susceptible to sin. Despite our best efforts to avoid errors, making mistakes is an inevitable part of life. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins." The verse above means that making mistakes or committing sin is a universal part of the human experience. It is something that we all confront as we go through life. However, we have a Heavenly Father who understands and sympathizes with what we are going through. Psalm 103:13-14 says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." God understands our physical and emotional limitations and meets us with mercy, love, grace, and compassion. Regardless of our mistakes, God has the ability to forgive and restore us.

We need God to help us deal with our mistakes and sins. 1 John 1:8-9 can guide us on how we deal with them. It says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The first thing that we need to do is to acknowledge our mistakes and sins. We must stop blaming others for the mistakes and sins we have made. It is important that we take full responsibility for our actions. Secondly, we must confess them to God, for He has promised that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify or cleanse us from all the mistakes and sins that we have done. We must accept His complete forgiveness. We must say it to ourselves without a shadow of a doubt that God has forgiven our sins. Then, we must forgive ourselves. Let us not stay in shame, because it is impossible for us to go back in the past to undo what we have done. We must focus on the present and make things right before God, and trust God for healing and restoration.

We all have made mistakes and committed sin. Jesus came to save us from all our mistakes and sins. Let us not dwell in shame, but let us trust God that He can restore us by using our past mistakes and sins for our spiritual growth and good. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Can I avoid making mistakes and committing sin? What does God want me to do when I make a mistake or fall into sin? Why is it that staying in my shame is not what God wants me to do? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to save me from my mistakes and sins. Please forgive me for all the sins that I have committed. Please help me not to live in shame, but to live in your forgiveness by living in the present and doing what is right before you. I trust in your healing and restoration that you are doing in my life. Please help me to fix my eyes on you. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.