He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. - Revelation 21:4 NLT
There is a part of my story that is most definitely not what you would expect from a “typical Christian girl”. I had three abortions in my life before Christ, and I have gone through multiple abortion recovery classes as a result of the terrible choices I made long before I chose Jesus. But just like in Revelation, Jesus sets out to make all things new, and remember the past and our past transgressions no more. I love the imagery put forth in Revelation 21:1 – Then I saw a new heaven and earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Remember that sea that Jesus throws our sins into? Psalm 103:12 reminds us that: As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Well, when the Messiah comes back to earth, the sea is gone. All of our bad mistakes, all of our past transgressions, all of the sin: it’s gone as gone can be, and He remembers it no more. No matter what mistakes you have made in your past, Jesus is with you, and He loves you. He looks at you and sees His beloved, His daughter, His fearfully and wonderfully made girl. He doesn’t see your failures or missteps: He sees you.
God took my broken, battered ashes and gave me something beautiful in return.
I had three abortions: God blessed me and my husband with three daughters.
I had horrible boyfriends: God blessed me with a faithful husband who follows God and loves his family, unconditionally.
I had so many demons and skeletons in my own closet, I feared that no one would want to attempt a real relationship with me. Except for the fact that God had been courting me my whole life; leading me ever closer to Him and our journey together. Even in the midst of tragedy and trauma, God never left my side. He took the empty vessel of a girl and filled her with the love of the Holy Spirit. Now, I can overflow His love into everyone around me. Because the Good News of the Gospel is just that: good news! The kind of good news you want to tell everyone about, because you want to bring your family home, just like Jesus does.
Mama, you are not defined by your past mistakes.
You are defined as a daughter of God. A child of God, that’s what you are.
Your Heavenly Father doesn’t see anything but love when He looks at you.
So, when you find yourself reexamining all the things that went wrong,
remember God and all of the mistakes He righted.
Jesus, may I know how loved and accepted I am in Your kingdom. Lord, thank you for making me the woman You made me to be. Envelop me in the love and peace that surpasses all understanding and remind my heart that I am already a chosen member of your family, Jesus. Forgive the sins and transgressions of my past, Jesus, and let me begin anew in You, Lord. Help me to have fresh eyes and open hands to receive the blessings You have for me. It is in Your precious name I pray, Amen.
Is there something from your past that keeps you from embracing the love Jesus has for you?
Your Fellow Able Mom,
Shannon
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