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You Are My Creation, Philadelphia, PA (2026)

We are Outreach Ministry where Christians come together as a family of believers in Christ to Teach, Learn, encourage and share God's Word through Fellowship, studying God's word, praying and serving All. Welcome to You Are My Creation God's creation: Organization created where Christians come together as a family of believers in Christ to Teach, Learn, encourage and share God's Word through Fellowship, studying God's word, praying and serving All. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did:

22 “He never sinned, and he never told a lie.”

23 People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. 25 You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives.

09/25/2026

SEPTEMBER 25

📖 My Words Glorify God 📖

Reflection

We often think about glorifying God through the things we do.

How we serve.

How we treat people.

How we use our gifts.

How we live when no one is watching.

But our words are part of our worship too.

Every day, we speak thousands of words.

We speak to family.

Friends.

Coworkers.

Strangers.

People on the telephone.

People online.

And sometimes, the greatest test of whether our words glorify God comes when we are frustrated, disappointed, offended, or misunderstood.

It is easy to speak graciously when everything is going well.

It is much harder when someone gets on our last nerve.

When we have explained something more than once.

When someone says something we believe is unfair.

When we feel disrespected.

When somebody makes a mistake that creates more work for us.

When we know we are right.

Those moments reveal something important.

Our words do not stop representing us simply because we are angry.

And as believers, they do not stop representing our faith either.

That does not mean Christians must always speak softly or avoid difficult conversations.

There are times when something needs to be addressed.

There are times when we need to say:

“That was wrong.”

“That needs to be corrected.”

“I disagree.”

“That hurt me.”

“This cannot continue.”

Speaking words that glorify God does not mean becoming passive.

It means learning to communicate truth without allowing anger, pride, bitterness, or frustration to control the way we deliver it.

Sometimes we can be completely right about the issue and still be wrong in the way we speak about it.

We may win the argument but damage the relationship.

We may prove our point but leave someone wounded.

We may say something true in a way that was unnecessarily cruel.

And once words leave our mouths, we cannot pull them back.

We can apologize.

We can ask forgiveness.

We can try to repair the damage.

But we cannot make those words unheard.

That is why learning to govern our speech matters.

Before speaking, we can begin asking ourselves:

“Will what I am about to say glorify God?”

Not:

“Can I prove that I’m right?”

Not:

“Can I say something that will shut them up?”

Not:

“How can I make them understand how angry I am?”

But:

“Can I say what needs to be said in a way that still reflects who I belong to?”

That question can change our tone.

It can change our timing.

It can even change whether something needs to be said at all.

There are also times when glorifying God with our words means refusing to participate in conversations that tear someone else down.

Gossip can feel harmless when we are simply listening.

Negative conversations can feel justified when everyone agrees.

Complaining can become so familiar that we hardly notice how often we do it.

But our words create an atmosphere.

What kind of atmosphere follows us?

Do people leave conversations with us feeling encouraged?

Do our words bring clarity?

Peace?

Truth?

Hope?

Or are we constantly feeding negativity, criticism, conflict, and confusion?

This does not mean every conversation has to sound like a sermon.

Sometimes glorifying God sounds like laughter.

Sometimes it sounds like encouragement.

Sometimes it sounds like:

“Thank you.”

“I appreciate you.”

“I was wrong.”

“Please forgive me.”

“I understand.”

“Tell me what you think.”

“I am listening.”

Sometimes it means choosing silence because we know the words forming in our minds should not become words coming from our mouths.

And sometimes glorifying God means speaking up when silence would be easier.

Our words can defend someone who is being mistreated.

They can encourage someone who is discouraged.

They can tell the truth when dishonesty would be convenient.

They can bring peace into a tense situation.

They can remind someone that they are loved.

They can testify about what God has done.

Every conversation gives us an opportunity to decide what kind of fruit our words will produce.

First Corinthians 10:31 teaches us that even ordinary things can be done for God’s glory.

Eating.

Drinking.

Whatever we do.

That means glorifying God is not limited to church, prayer, worship music, or ministry.

It reaches into everyday life.

Into our homes.

Our businesses.

Our relationships.

Our telephone conversations.

Our social media posts.

Our disagreements.

Even our responses when something does not go the way we expected.

We will not always get it right.

There may be moments when we speak too quickly and realize afterward:

“I should have handled that differently.”

When that happens, glorifying God can also look like humility.

We can apologize.

We can make the correction.

We can learn.

And the next time, we can choose differently.

Spiritual growth is not never making another mistake.

Sometimes growth is recognizing the mistake sooner.

Catching ourselves before we say everything we are thinking.

Learning when to stop.

Learning when to listen.

Learning when to pray before responding.

And slowly allowing God to transform not only what we believe, but the way we communicate.

Because our words are part of our witness.

People may never hear us preach.

They may never read our devotionals.

They may never sit beside us in church.

But they will hear how we speak.

And perhaps one of the simplest ways we can honor God today is by making this decision:

Whatever conversation I enter, I want my words to leave evidence of the God I serve.

⸻

GOD’S WORD

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Paul reminds us that honoring God reaches into the ordinary details of everyday life. If even eating and drinking can be done for God’s glory, then surely our conversations can be too. Our words, tone, responses, and even our silence can become opportunities to reflect the character of Christ.

⸻

TODAY’S DECLARATION

Today my words will glorify God.

I will remember that my words are part of my witness.

I will not allow anger to decide what comes out of my mouth.

I can be honest without being hurtful.

I can be direct without being disrespectful.

I can correct something without tearing someone down.

I can disagree without becoming cruel.

I do not have to say everything I am thinking.

I will know when to speak and when to remain silent.

I will listen before assuming.

I will think before responding.

When I make a mistake with my words, I will have the humility to apologize and make it right.

I will use my voice to encourage.

I will use my voice to tell the truth.

I will use my voice to bring peace where I can.

I will use my voice to speak gratitude instead of constantly complaining.

I will not participate in conversations designed to destroy someone else.

In my home, I will glorify God.

In my relationships, I will glorify God.

In my business, I will glorify God.

In my private conversations, I will glorify God.

In my public conversations, I will glorify God.

Even when I am frustrated, I will remember who I represent.

I want the words I leave behind to produce good fruit.

Today, my words glorify God.

⸻

YOU ARE MY CREATIONS™
Created with Purpose. 🩷 Loved Beyond Measure.

09/24/2026

SEPTEMBER 24

📖 I Speak Wisdom in All I Do 📖

Reflection

Every day brings decisions.

Some are small.

What should I say?

Should I respond now or wait?

Should I make this purchase?

Should I accept this opportunity?

Should I have this conversation?

Other decisions can affect the direction of our lives.

Which relationship should I pursue?

Is this the right business decision?

Should I stay, leave, begin, or wait?

What is the right thing to do when I cannot clearly see what comes next?

We will not always have an immediate answer.

That is why wisdom is so important.

Wisdom is more than knowing information.

We can know a lot and still make poor decisions.

We can have experience and still respond incorrectly.

We can even be right about something and handle it the wrong way.

Godly wisdom teaches us not only what to do, but also how to do it.

Sometimes wisdom says, “Speak.”

Sometimes wisdom says, “Be quiet.”

Sometimes wisdom says, “Wait.”

Sometimes wisdom says, “Move.”

Sometimes wisdom says, “Ask another question before making a decision.”

And sometimes wisdom says, “You do not have enough information yet.”

One of the hardest places to practice wisdom is in our conversations.

When something frustrates us, our first response may come from emotion.

We want to answer immediately.

We want to defend ourselves.

We want to make sure the other person understands exactly how we feel.

And sometimes we may even be completely justified in what we are feeling.

But wisdom asks another question:

“What response will produce the best fruit?”

That question can change an entire conversation.

There is a difference between saying everything we can say and saying what actually needs to be said.

There is a difference between proving a point and creating understanding.

There is a difference between reacting from frustration and responding with wisdom.

Wisdom does not make us weak.

It teaches us how to use our strength correctly.

A wise person can still say:

“No.”

“That was inappropriate.”

“I disagree.”

“That hurt me.”

“This needs to be corrected.”

“I need more information.”

“I am not comfortable with this.”

But wisdom helps determine the tone, timing, and words we use.

Sometimes the wisest response is not the quickest response.

We may need a few moments to settle our emotions before speaking.

We may need to pray before answering.

We may need to listen longer before deciding what we think.

We may need to admit:

“I misunderstood.”

Or:

“I was wrong.”

That requires wisdom too.

James describes wisdom from above in a beautiful way.

It is pure.

Peaceable.

Gentle.

Easy to be entreated.

Full of mercy and good fruits.

Without partiality.

Without hypocrisy.

Notice that biblical wisdom is not described as loud, harsh, controlling, or determined to win every argument.

Godly wisdom produces something different.

It makes room for peace without compromising truth.

It allows us to be firm without becoming cruel.

It allows us to listen without surrendering our voice.

It allows us to disagree without disrespecting another person.

And wisdom is needed far beyond our conversations.

We need wisdom in our finances.

Wisdom in our relationships.

Wisdom in our families.

Wisdom in our businesses.

Wisdom in leadership.

Wisdom in ministry.

Wisdom when opportunities appear.

Wisdom when doors close.

Wisdom when something looks good but does not feel right.

Wisdom when we are deciding what deserves our attention and what deserves to be left alone.

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is recognize that not everything requires our involvement.

Not every comment needs a response.

Not every disagreement needs to become an argument.

Not every opportunity is our opportunity.

Not every open door was opened by God.

Not every person deserves unlimited access to us.

And not every problem has to be solved today.

There is freedom in asking God for wisdom before we act.

Instead of immediately saying:

“I know what I’m going to do.”

we can pray:

“Lord, show me what I should do.”

Instead of:

“I know exactly what I’m going to say.”

we can ask:

“Lord, help me say this the right way.”

Instead of allowing emotions to make the decision, we can give wisdom an opportunity to speak first.

That does not mean we will never make mistakes.

We will.

But when we develop the habit of seeking God’s wisdom, we become less dependent on impulse and more attentive to His direction.

And sometimes wisdom will lead us differently than our feelings would have.

Our feelings may say:

“Respond now.”

Wisdom may say:

“Wait.”

Our pride may say:

“Prove you’re right.”

Wisdom may say:

“Protect the relationship.”

Fear may say:

“Don’t try.”

Wisdom may say:

“Prepare carefully and move forward.”

Frustration may say:

“I’m done.”

Wisdom may say:

“Don’t make a permanent decision from a temporary emotion.”

The more we allow God’s wisdom to guide us, the more our words, decisions, and actions begin to reflect Him.

We do not need to know everything.

We simply need to remain teachable enough to ask God:

“What is the wise thing to do here?”

And then be willing to listen.

⸻

GOD’S WORD

James 3:17

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

James gives us a picture of what godly wisdom looks like in practice. Wisdom from God does not simply help us make intelligent decisions; it shapes the spirit in which we speak and act. It is connected to purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, and good fruit. When we seek God’s wisdom, we are asking Him not only to guide what we do, but also to shape how we do it.

⸻

TODAY’S DECLARATION

Today I speak wisdom in all I do.

I will not allow every emotion to become an immediate reaction.

I will give myself permission to stop, pray, think, and listen.

I do not have to answer everything immediately.

I do not have to prove that I am right.

I can speak truth without speaking harshly.

I can disagree without disrespecting.

I can be firm without becoming unkind.

I can listen without losing my voice.

I will seek God’s wisdom in my conversations.

I will seek His wisdom in my relationships.

I will seek His wisdom in my finances.

I will seek His wisdom in my business.

I will seek His wisdom in leadership and every decision placed before me.

When I do not know what to do, I will ask God.

When my emotions are strong, I will ask God.

When an opportunity appears, I will ask God.

When something needs to be corrected, I will ask God to help me handle it wisely.

I will not make permanent decisions from temporary emotions.

I will remain teachable.

I will listen before assuming.

I will think before reacting.

I will pray before deciding.

And I will trust God to help me recognize the difference between my feelings and His wisdom.

Today, I speak wisdom in all I do.

⸻

YOU ARE MY CREATIONS™
Created with Purpose. 🩷 Loved Beyond Measure.

09/23/2026

SEPTEMBER 23

📖 I Speak Joy in Every Season 📖

Reflection

There are seasons of life when joy seems to come naturally.

Things are going well.

Prayers are being answered.

Our families are doing well.

Our health is good.

Doors are opening.

We feel productive, hopeful, and excited about what is ahead.

In those seasons, it is easy to say, “God is good.”

But what happens when the season changes?

What happens when the answer has not come yet?

When something we hoped for does not happen?

When our plans are interrupted?

When we are dealing with disappointment, uncertainty, loneliness, financial pressure, health concerns, family problems, or circumstances we simply cannot change?

Can we still speak joy?

Sometimes we confuse joy with happiness, but they are not exactly the same.

Happiness is often connected to what is happening around us.

Joy goes deeper.

Joy does not require us to pretend everything is wonderful when it isn’t.

It does not mean we never cry.

It does not mean disappointment does not hurt.

It does not mean we have to walk around smiling when our hearts are heavy.

Biblical joy is not pretending pain does not exist.

Joy is knowing that pain does not have the final word.

It is possible to say:

“This is difficult, but God is still with me.”

“I don’t understand what is happening, but I still trust God.”

“I am disappointed, but I will not allow disappointment to steal everything good from today.”

“I am waiting, but I can still thank God while I wait.”

That is joy in every season.

Sometimes we unknowingly postpone our joy.

We tell ourselves:

“I’ll be happy when this situation changes.”

“I’ll enjoy my life when I have more money.”

“I’ll have peace when this problem is resolved.”

“I’ll celebrate when I finally receive what I’ve been praying for.”

But if we continually wait for perfect circumstances before allowing ourselves to experience joy, we may spend much of our lives waiting.

There will always be something that could be better.

Something we are working toward.

Something we are praying about.

Something we wish were different.

And yet, right in the middle of all of that, there are still reasons to thank God.

There is still something beautiful happening.

There is still laughter.

There are still people we love.

There are still small victories.

There are still unexpected blessings.

There are still ordinary moments that deserve to be enjoyed.

Sometimes joy is found in the things we almost overlook.

A conversation that makes us laugh.

A favorite meal.

A beautiful morning.

A phone call from someone we love.

A song that lifts our spirit.

A quiet moment with God.

A memory that makes us smile.

The ability to get up and begin another day.

Joy does not always arrive through something spectacular.

Sometimes joy is simply recognizing the goodness God has already placed around us.

And speaking joy matters because our words can influence what receives our attention.

If we constantly say:

“Everything is terrible.”

“Nothing is going right.”

“I have nothing to be happy about.”

“This whole season is awful.”

we can become so focused on what is wrong that we stop noticing what is still good.

That does not mean we deny the difficult things.

It means we refuse to allow one difficult part of our lives to define the entire season.

There can be sorrow and gratitude.

Disappointment and hope.

Questions and faith.

Waiting and joy.

Both things can exist at the same time.

The book of Nehemiah gives us an important picture of this.

The people had been listening to God’s Word, and as they understood it, they began to weep.

But Nehemiah told them not to remain in mourning.

He reminded them:

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Their strength was not found in pretending everything had always been right.

Their strength came from turning their hearts toward God.

That same truth speaks to us today.

Our joy is not dependent upon everything around us cooperating.

Our joy has a Source.

And when our circumstances change, our Source does not.

Some seasons will be easier than others.

Some will stretch us.

Some will require patience.

Some will teach us things we never expected to learn.

Some will bring tremendous celebration.

And some will require us to hold tightly to God while taking life one day at a time.

But we do not have to surrender our joy simply because we have entered a difficult season.

We can ask God:

“Show me what is still good here.”

“Help me recognize Your presence here.”

“Help me find something to be grateful for today.”

“Help me not become so consumed with what I am waiting for that I miss the life You have already given me.”

Because this season is still part of our life.

And we do not want to spend it constantly wishing we were somewhere else.

There is something to learn here.

Something to appreciate here.

Something God can develop in us here.

And yes—

there can still be joy here.

⸻

GOD’S WORD

Nehemiah 8:10

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The people were experiencing deep emotion as they heard and understood God’s Word, but Nehemiah reminded them that they were not meant to remain overwhelmed by sorrow. Their strength was found in the joy of the Lord. Our circumstances may change from season to season, but the God who sustains us does not.

⸻

TODAY’S DECLARATION

Today I speak joy into my life.

I will not wait for perfect circumstances before I allow myself to enjoy the life God has given me.

I can acknowledge what is difficult without allowing it to define everything.

I can be disappointed and still have hope.

I can be waiting and still be grateful.

I can have unanswered questions and still trust God.

I will not allow one difficult situation to convince me that everything in my life is wrong.

I will pay attention to the blessings I might normally overlook.

I will appreciate the ordinary moments.

I will laugh when there is something to laugh about.

I will celebrate progress.

I will thank God for what I have while continuing to pray for what I need.

When circumstances change, I will remember that God has not changed.

When the season is difficult, I will draw strength from Him.

When the season is beautiful, I will enjoy it with gratitude.

I will not postpone my joy while waiting for tomorrow.

There is life to appreciate today.

There is goodness to recognize today.

There is something to thank God for today.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Today, I speak joy in every season.

⸻

YOU ARE MY CREATIONS™
Created with Purpose. 🩷 Loved Beyond Measure.

09/22/2026

Good morning

DID YOU KNOW THAT, AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, WE HAVE FIVE SEASONS?

We often speak of four:

🌸 Spring
☀️ Summer
🍂 Fall
❄️ Winter

But spiritually, there is a fifth season…

DUE SEASON! 🙌🏼

Due season is God’s appointed time, the moment when everything you have prayed over, planted in faith, endured with patience, and remained faithful through begins to produce its harvest.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
—Galatians 6:9

You may not know when your due season will arrive. You may feel tired, discouraged, or tempted to believe that nothing is happening.

But don’t stop praying.
Don’t stop believing.
Don’t stop planting.
And whatever you do—don’t faint!

The ground may look empty, but God is working beneath the surface. What He promised has not been forgotten.

Your due season is coming, and when God says it is time, no delay, no opposition, and no person can stop the harvest He has appointed for you! 🙌🏼🙏🏼

09/22/2026

SEPTEMBER 22

📖 I Declare God’s Favor Over My Life 📖

Reflection

There are times when we look at our lives and immediately notice what seems to be working against us.

The door that has not opened.

The opportunity we did not receive.

The person who said no.

The delay we did not expect.

The circumstances that seem unfair.

And if we are not careful, those experiences can begin shaping the way we speak about our lives.

“Nothing ever works out for me.”

“I never get a break.”

“Other people always get the opportunities.”

“Things just don’t happen for me.”

“Every time I try to move forward, something gets in the way.”

Those statements may come from disappointment, but when repeated often enough, disappointment can begin sounding like an identity.

Speaking life requires us to remember that what we see happening around us is not the complete story of what God is doing in our lives.

God’s favor is not limited to everything going exactly the way we planned.

Sometimes favor looks like an open door.

Sometimes favor looks like a closed one.

Sometimes favor brings an opportunity.

Sometimes favor protects us from an opportunity that was not right for us.

Sometimes favor connects us with the right person.

And sometimes favor removes someone whose presence would have interfered with where God was leading us.

We often recognize favor when something wonderful happens.

The application is approved.

The position becomes available.

The financial need is met.

The relationship is restored.

The unexpected opportunity appears.

The answer is yes.

And those moments deserve our gratitude.

But God’s favor can also be working when we cannot immediately recognize it.

A delay may be protecting us.

A rejection may be redirecting us.

A closed door may be keeping us from entering something that looked good but was not good for us.

A season of waiting may be preparing us for something we were not ready to carry before.

We do not always know.

That is why we have to be careful about interpreting every disappointment as evidence that God is not working in our favor.

Favor does not mean we will never experience difficulty.

It does not mean everyone will like us.

It does not mean every request will receive a yes.

It does not mean we will receive everything we want simply because we declare it.

Biblical favor is not a guarantee of an effortless life.

It is the gracious kindness of God operating according to His wisdom and purpose.

And sometimes His wisdom will look different from our preference.

There may be times when we pray:

“God, open this door.”

But God knows what is behind it.

There may be times when we pray:

“God, let this work.”

But God sees where that road leads.

There may be times when we are disappointed because something did not happen according to our timetable.

Then months or years later, we look back and realize:

God was protecting me.

That was favor too.

We should also remember that God’s favor is not something we have to compete with other people to receive.

Someone else being blessed does not mean there is less available for us.

Someone else receiving an opportunity does not mean God has forgotten our name.

Someone else entering their season does not mean ours will never come.

Comparison can make us speak negatively about what God is doing in our own lives because we are too busy measuring our journey against someone else’s.

But God does not need to copy another person’s story to bless ours.

His path for us may look completely different.

So instead of saying:

“Why does everything happen for them?”

we can say:

“God, thank You for what You are doing in their life, and I trust You with mine.”

That is a different kind of declaration.

It does not come from jealousy.

It comes from confidence that God knows how to care for each of His children.

There is also favor we may overlook because it has become familiar.

The person who called at exactly the right time.

The unexpected kindness someone showed us.

The wisdom that kept us from making the wrong decision.

The provision that arrived just when we needed it.

The strength to get through something we thought would overwhelm us.

The peace that made no sense considering what we were facing.

The opportunity we never expected.

The relationship God used to encourage us.

The danger we never knew He protected us from.

Not every expression of favor arrives with an announcement.

Some of it is woven quietly throughout our everyday lives.

So perhaps part of declaring God’s favor is learning to recognize His hand.

Not demanding that everything go our way.

Not pretending difficulties do not exist.

Not believing that faith means we will never hear no.

But trusting that God’s goodness is greater than what we can presently see.

We can walk into today without declaring defeat before anything happens.

We can approach opportunities without assuming rejection.

We can face closed doors without believing our future has been canceled.

We can celebrate other people without fearing that God has forgotten us.

And we can remain open to the possibility that God may answer our prayers differently—and better—than we imagined.

Favor is not about controlling outcomes.

It is about trusting the God who sees the entire road.

So when something does not happen the way we expected, we do not have to immediately declare:

“Nothing ever works out for me.”

We can leave room for another possibility:

God may still be working this for my good in a way I cannot see yet.

⸻

GOD’S WORD

Psalm 5:12

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

David describes God’s favor as something that surrounds His people like a shield. That does not mean we will never encounter disappointment, difficulty, or closed doors. It reminds us that our lives remain under God’s loving care. His favor operates according to His wisdom, and sometimes what He prevents is just as important as what He provides.

⸻

TODAY’S DECLARATION

Today I declare God’s favor over my life.

I will not allow disappointment to convince me that God has forgotten me.

I will not speak defeat over myself because one door closed.

I will not compare my journey with someone else’s.

Another person’s blessing does not diminish what God can do in my life.

I will celebrate what God is doing for others while trusting Him with what He is doing for me.

I will recognize that favor does not always look the way I expect.

Sometimes favor opens the door.

Sometimes favor closes it.

Sometimes favor says yes.

Sometimes God’s wisdom says no.

Sometimes favor moves quickly.

Sometimes favor protects me while I wait.

I trust God enough to know that He sees what I cannot see.

I will pay attention to the quiet ways His goodness appears in my life.

The right connection.

The unexpected provision.

The wisdom to make a better decision.

The strength to endure.

The peace to wait.

The protection I may never fully know about.

I do not have to force what God has not opened.

I do not have to chase what He is asking me to release.

I do not have to fear that I have been overlooked.

God knows my name.

God knows my needs.

God knows my future.

And I trust His wisdom concerning my life.

I will walk into today expecting God’s goodness without demanding that it arrive according to my plans.

Today, I declare God’s favor over my life.

⸻

YOU ARE MY CREATIONS™
Created with Purpose. 🩷 Loved Beyond Measure.

09/21/2026

SEPTEMBER 21

📖 I Speak Forgiveness Freely 📖

Reflection

Forgiveness can be one of the hardest things we are called to do.

It is easy to talk about forgiveness when the hurt belongs to someone else.

But when we are the one who was betrayed, disappointed, disrespected, overlooked, lied to, abandoned, or deeply wounded, forgiveness can feel very different.

Sometimes the words:

“I forgive you”

do not come easily.

We may replay what happened.

What they said.

What they did.

What they should have done.

What we wish we had said.

And every time we rehearse the offense, the emotions can return as though the situation just happened.

That is one reason forgiveness is so closely connected to our words.

What we continually say about an offense can either help us release it or keep us emotionally attached to it.

We can tell the story so many times that the hurt remains fresh.

We repeat the conversation.

We describe what happened to another person.

Then another.

Then another.

And sometimes without realizing it, the offense becomes part of our everyday conversation.

Forgiveness does not mean we have to pretend the hurt never happened.

It happened.

And if it hurt, we can acknowledge that honestly.

Forgiveness does not require us to call wrong behavior right.

It does not mean there should never be consequences.

It does not automatically restore trust.

And it does not always mean a relationship should return to what it was before.

There are situations where wisdom requires boundaries.

There are relationships where trust must be rebuilt over time.

And there may be circumstances where reconciliation is not possible or appropriate.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are related, but they are not identical.

Forgiveness can begin in our own heart even when another person never apologizes.

Even when they never admit what they did.

Even when they never understand how deeply their actions affected us.

That can be difficult because part of us may feel that releasing the offense somehow allows the other person to get away with what happened.

But forgiveness is not declaring:

“What you did was acceptable.”

Forgiveness is saying:

“I will not allow what you did to continue controlling what happens inside of me.”

There is freedom in that.

Because unforgiveness can keep us connected to something we desperately want to leave behind.

The person may have moved on.

The situation may have ended years ago.

But every time their name is mentioned, something rises inside of us.

Every time we tell the story, anger returns.

Every time we think about what happened, we mentally return to the same moment.

And eventually, we may realize that although the event ended, we are still carrying it.

God does not ask us to forgive because the pain was insignificant.

He asks us to forgive because He does not want bitterness to become rooted in us.

Bitterness rarely stays contained.

It can influence how we speak.

How we trust.

How we respond.

How we enter new relationships.

How we interpret other people’s intentions.

And sometimes we begin making new people pay for wounds they did not create.

That is why forgiveness is not only about the person who hurt us.

It is also about what we allow to remain in our own hearts.

There may also be times when forgiveness is a process.

We may sincerely decide:

“I forgive them.”

Then later, a memory surfaces and the hurt returns.

That does not necessarily mean the decision to forgive was false.

Sometimes healing happens in layers.

We may have to bring the same hurt back to God again.

And again.

And say:

“Lord, I already chose to forgive this. Help my emotions come into agreement with the decision I made.”

Forgiveness does not always erase the memory.

But over time, God can remove the sting attached to it.

Eventually, we may be able to remember what happened without reliving it.

We can tell the story without anger controlling our voice.

We can hear the person’s name without our peace disappearing.

That is healing.

And forgiveness is not something we only extend to other people.

Sometimes the person we have the hardest time forgiving is ourselves.

We remember something we did years ago.

A poor decision.

A missed opportunity.

Words we wish we could take back.

A relationship we mishandled.

Something we knew better than to do.

We have asked God for forgiveness, but we continue punishing ourselves.

We keep saying:

“I should have known better.”

“I can’t believe I did that.”

“I’ll never forgive myself.”

But if God has forgiven us, we should not spend the rest of our lives speaking condemnation over something He has already covered with grace.

We can learn from the past without living imprisoned by it.

Speaking forgiveness freely does not mean forgiveness is always easy.

It means we understand that holding onto bitterness costs us too much.

Our peace is too valuable.

Our future is too valuable.

Our relationships are too valuable.

Our spiritual growth is too valuable.

So when the opportunity comes to rehearse an old offense again, we can make another choice.

We can pray.

We can release.

We can establish healthy boundaries when needed.

We can seek wise help when the wound is deep.

And we can refuse to allow yesterday’s hurt to control today’s words.

Because forgiveness does not change what happened.

But forgiveness can change what happens inside of us next.

⸻

GOD’S WORD

Ephesians 4:31–32

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Paul connects forgiveness with what we allow to remain in our hearts and what eventually comes through our words. We forgive not because every offense was small or insignificant, but because through Christ we have experienced forgiveness ourselves. God calls us away from bitterness and toward a life shaped by kindness, tenderness, grace, and forgiveness.

⸻

TODAY’S DECLARATION

Today I will speak forgiveness freely.

I will not pretend that something did not hurt when it did.

But I will not allow that hurt to become bitterness inside of me.

I will not continually rehearse an offense simply to keep the anger alive.

I will take what hurt me to God.

I will allow Him to heal the places that still feel tender.

I understand that forgiveness does not mean approving what was wrong.

Forgiveness does not require me to ignore wisdom.

I can forgive and still have boundaries.

I can forgive even when trust needs time to be rebuilt.

I can forgive even when another person never apologizes.

I can release someone without giving their actions permission to continue controlling my emotions.

When old memories return, I will remind myself that I have chosen freedom.

If I need to release the hurt again, I will.

I will not condemn myself for needing time to heal.

And I will extend forgiveness to myself too.

I will learn from my mistakes without allowing them to become lifelong sentences of condemnation.

God has shown me grace.

God has forgiven me.

And with His help, I will allow that same grace to flow through me.

I will protect my peace.

I will release bitterness.

I will choose healing.

I will choose freedom.

Today, I speak forgiveness freely.

⸻

YOU ARE MY CREATIONS™
Created with Purpose. 🩷 Loved Beyond Measure.

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