We are about to enter the Christmas season; known by retailers (and shoppers) as the make or break Christmas shopping season that begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  So what’s the real reason for the season?  God’s love for you!  That’s why He sent Jesus Christ (see John 3:16).

God loves you and He doesn’t want you to perish under a painful pile of guilt produced by your permissiveness and sin.  So Christ came that you can be forgiven from your guilt, made clean and set free from your wrong words, thoughts, and actions.

Christmas isn’t just fancy fluff and theory.  God’s loving forgiveness is very practical and life transforming.  Personally experience it this Christmas season by doing this — write your wrongs & move on in peace.

Here’s how:  Get a pen and piece of paper.  Then make a list of your naughty (not nice)  thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions.  Be completely honest with yourself and write down as many as you can think of.

Then sincerely tell God:  “Lord, I’m sorry for doing these things and I don’t want to do them any more (and slowly read the list to Him).  Please forgive me for all of this, Lord.  And help me to stop all these things.  Please set me free.”  If any emotions come, let them happen (don’t hold them back).  Stay before God until you sense His peace.

Next, take the paper and tear it into tiny pieces.  Then trow it in the trash.

That’s what God does when you confess your sins.  He forgives you and forgets.  He gives you peace and removes your guilt.  He gives you power to do what Jesus told the woman caught in adultery:  “Go and sin no more.”

Experience the real meaning of Christmas this year.  Write your wrongs and then move on in the peace and forgiveness of God.

Need help with this process?  Come visit The Salvation Army Berry Street — an open, loving, participatory church where you can feel God’s love, forgiveness, presence, and power — on Sundays at 10:45 am., 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee, 37207.