Being forgiven is such a valuable gift, which brings such peace to our lives, yet it is something that can be taken for granted if we are not careful. One famous atheist said, "The one thing I envy about you Christians is that you have someone to forgive you." Without forgiveness, life can be full of guilt, anxiety, and lack of peace.

A man by the name of Val Patterson died a few years ago due to cancer. He knew the end was coming, so he wrote his own obituary notice. Because of some things he said, it went viral. One of the things that he said was: "Now that I have gone to my reward, I have confessions and things I should now say. As it turns out, I AM the guy who stole the safe from the Motor View Drive Inn back in June 1971. I could have left that unsaid, but I wanted to get it off my chest." Forty-one years earlier as a teen, he committed a robbery. Though he wasn't caught by the police, he was never able to escape the voice of a guilty conscience.

King David said in Ps 32:1: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." What a gift to come to the end of your journey and know that your sins are forgiven, that they are not screaming at you in the corridors of your mind, and you are at peace and ready to go to your heavenly home. If you have not received God's forgiveness, I encourage you to do it today. Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not guaranteed, so now is the time to open the door of your heart to Jesus.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sins. Thank you for the forgiveness I have though Him, and for the unconditional love you have given me. There is nothing I have done to deserve these gifts, but you have made it so easy for me to simply accept them. Help me never take them for granted but live a life that honors you and brings others to know You. In Jesus' name, amen.

1.    Psalm 32:1-2 (TLB).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.