We all do it.

We all are harder on ourselves than anyone else – we don’t give ourselves a break. Maybe one of the most extreme cases I have heard about is the story of Donnie Moore.  Twenty five years ago today the California Angels were 1 strike away from advancing to their first-ever World Series. Moore gave up an HR to Dave Henderson allowing the Boston Red Sox to come back and eventually win the game and series.

In the public perception, Moore became associated with the Angels’ loss of the pennant, ironically in much the same manner that Bill Buckner became associated with the Red Sox’ subsequent loss of the World Series later that year. For the next 2 years, every time Moore walked onto the field, the Angels fans booed him. They were relentless, and it wore on Moore.

Moore was eventually traded and finally cut in the middle of the 1989 season.  On July 18, 1989, during an argument with his wife, Moore shot her three times, and then fatally shot himself.

This is an extreme example but we all do it – we don’t forgive ourselves. What we don’t always realize is that this is a major part of Satan’s strategy – he wants us to feel bad about ourselves, to feel inadequate, with his ultimate goal being to separate us from God.

The Sanctus Real song “Forgiven” reminds us of the truth:

“Well the past is playing with my head and failure knocks me down again. I’m reminded of the wrong that I have said and done and that devil just won’t let me forget…

“In this life I know what I’ve been but here in your arms I know what I am. I’m forgiven, I’m forgiven.  And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been cause I’m forgiven.

“My mistakes are running through my mind and I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night.  When I wrestle with my pain, struggle with my pride, sometimes I feel alone, and I cry.

“When I don’t think and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere; when I don’t measure up to much in this life. Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause I’m forgiven, I’m forgiven.”

It is human nature to not forgive but that is not God’s nature as Paul states in Ephesians 1:6-8 “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

We are forgiven by a wonderful God who loves us.  If God can forgive us we can forgive ourselves no matter we did today, yesterday or years ago. Don’t let the past play with your head – don’t let Satan win – you’re forgiven.

 In His Service,

Ed