Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
–Php 3:13-14
Those were the words of the apostle Paul, as he addressed the church of Ephesus. If you take a look at Paul’s heydays as a persecutor of Christians, you may be tempted to think that he is worthy of God’s entire wrath and fury. But, here he is, exhorting us to forget all that is in our past and press on towards God’s purpose for our lives! Paul went on to become one of the leading proponents of the Christian faith and, 2000 years later, is still teaching millions of people how to walk with God. How was he able to embrace the very person he swore to discredit – Jesus? How could he move past his atrocious past to become God’s most powerful tool in bringing the unsaved to Christ? It all begins with confessing the sins of the past and accepting God’s forgiveness and healing.
If you are an unmarried Christian woman who is pregnant, you may be feeling guilty. Well, guilt is a God-given feeling, which brings our mistakes and faults to the forefront of our minds. It is a bitter reminder of our sins and bad choices, exposing our straying away from God’s intended path for our future. However, shame is not from God. While guilt can convict us to repent and confess our sins to receive God’s forgiveness, shame drives us away from Him into more darkness. Shame can fool you into thinking that you are too far away for God’s loving embrace. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, I encourage you to repent from the poor decisions of your past and press on towards the good future God has for you. God’s grace has the power to cover a multitude of your sins when you embrace what Christ did for you on the Cross of Calvary. You may be embarrassed and scorned by those around you. Your self-esteem may have taken a heavy beating. But, no sin is too big for God’s forgiving heart.
Your pregnancy may be God’s plan to bring joy and happiness to another couple. Your mistake can be the very miracle that God has prepared for a childless couple. There are millions of women who cry themselves to bed every night, unable to bear the thought of not being able to conceive. You have the opportunity to be a blessing to them when you give up your child for adoption. Prayerfully consider what God wants you to do with this child and ask for His grace to help you carry through your decision.
Whatever mistakes you have made in the past, all you need to do is seek the forgiveness of God so that you can move on to enjoy the abundant life that God wants you to have. Just remember that Jesus loves you and He has a great plan for your life! Learn about your choices through Christian open adoption today by calling Lifetime Christian Adoption at 1-800-923-6784.
