It’s not unusual for me to receive messages while in my sleep. I often wake up with them rolling around in my brain. I do not want to assume I know where they came from. I guess any answer can do. Information can be coming from God, angels, my higher self, or any other spiritual avenue. I am at the point of not even questioning how things happen with me or how I know or hear things. I just know it does, and that is good enough for me.
Honesty has been the theme of the morning as I drink my morning coffee. It is so important to take an honest assessment of one’s self. As I reflect on some incidents of the past that occurred in my life, my heart feels relieved. Honesty does two things:
- One is to give us a clear assessment of who we are as people. Honesty can reveal the deep inner issues we need to deal with and process through. Sometimes we need to forgive ourselves, and sometimes we need to confess our wrongdoing. God has control over that, and it’s between the individual and God.
- Honesty can also reveal the things that happened and were not our fault. When this happens, it is a great relief. Take the time to forgive others but also take the time to breathe in truth and comfort. When honesty reveals other people’s wrongdoing we have taken upon ourselves, it is time to let it all go. We are never responsible for other people’s actions, no matter how close they might be to us. Sometimes we are punished for what others have done because they are close to us. If the influence is in the family, then we have no choice. Our families are ours for a lifetime to learn, grow, and understand how to forgive.
When honestly brings us to the things we were punished for that others have done, it is time to forgive ourselves for holding onto the shame or guilt of it all. Society has a way of determining fault and pointing fingers when fingers should be pointed back at them. Usually, when finger-pointing happens, it is because they are the ones who need to process honesty.
When it comes to judging other people, think of these things first; Moses murdered, Noah got naked and drunk, prophets ran from their calling, women were treated as possessions and abandoned by powerful men whom “God had called.” We are not perfect beings. The point is God loves us anyway, and we are still a part of God. The heart is what matters. Each person reflected in biblical writings did wrong things. Well, I guess not Jesus. Aside from Him, we are all in the same rocky boat.
We might as well be honest with ourselves. Take a deep inventory of who you are, what you have done, and do it in the presence of God. Meditate on it and forgive yourself. You can not be forgiven for things you will never admit. No one is there except you and God or whatever angels are allowed to be there for you. Alright, you might have some crossed over loved ones present. I like to think the family is always with us. So, be honest with yourself today. It’s called taking moral inventory. Forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness of things you have done. Then be relieved and start each day again clear from all of those things you lie to yourself about because you don’t want to admit them to anyone. We all have those things. So it is alright.
Take the moral dumper and after you do, as I said, forgive yourself, ask God to forgive you, and move onward clear and clean. Being honest with ourselves is the way we are washed. Close your eyes and allow forgiveness, mercy, and grace to flow over you like a river. Take time for tears because they cleanse the soul. Your life will be freer because of it. Don’t wait on this. You are too important to let it go. In all honesty, you are worth it!
Loving you from here,
Dr. Rev. Jenine Marie Howry, PhD
Life Lessons by Jenine Marie 