Faith Walk: Station 1

     After listening to the first session of the women's retreat, we had a faith walk around the camp.  It was DARK outside.  We did have three flashlights in each group, but it was still very dark.  On the way to each station we would talk about the discussion question.  Then at each station we would read scripture and do an activity and reflect on it.  I am going to list each station and the scripture we read and the activity we did and what the reflection part was.  I think that I am just going to do one station per day.  I want you to really take the time to think about each of these answers for yourself.  I know that this is longer than most of my other posts, but PLEASE read it.  God did great things through this faith walk.  I know that He can use it here on this blog to really change people too.  It was written by the speaker of the retreat, so it is her and God, not my thoughts, until the break at the end.   


     Station 1:          You are fully forgiven & free to forgive

Discussion: Share a sin you need God to forgive or one needing your forgiveness.

Consider: Sin and unforgiveness are a burden we were never meant to bare.  They weigh us down and stop us from moving forward in life, love and faith. There is no sin so grave that the Lord’s grace cannot remove and fully forgive or empower us to forgive as He forgives us.

Scripture: Read

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:1-12: ¹ Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ephesians 4:32:  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Challenge: Harness one person to the rock.  Once harnessed, try to move/climb the wall.  (We were harnessed to a VERY HUGE rock!  You could not move at all once you were attached to it.) 

Read Hebrews 12:1-2:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflect: Take a silent moment to release your sin or unforgiveness to Jesus, lay it at the foot of the cross, and receive God’s full forgiveness, forgive yourself, or make the choice to forgive another. 



Wow...How freeing is that?  Jesus died so we didn't have to carry a burden that we were not meant to bear.  Allow His loving sacrifice to cover you and those around you.  Thanks for reading.  :-)