Tuesday, March 21, 2017

What To Do With Guilt?

Many people believe that guilt comes from the Devil.  Why would the Devil make you feel guilty? He doesn't want you do anything about your guilt.  It isn't true, is it?  If you are guilty, you should feel guilty, right?

The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts us of sin and makes us feel guilty, so we will repent and turn around.  If we have sinned against God, we should feel remorse for our sin or sins.

James 4:10  "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up."

Don't be too proud to say, 'I'm sorry'.  It is a humbling experience to some, to say, 'I'm sorry'.  But it is necessary, we must even admit we are wrong if we offend our children, that may be hard for some to do but it is necessary to be right with God.

2 Corinthians 7:10  "For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation."

Romans 2:4  "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?"  Where do you see the goodness of God?  At the cross, right?  Of course, when He gave His Son to die for us, that is the goodness of God.  And that goodness will lead us to repentance.

Repentance is a U-turn on the road of life, we turn from our sins and go the other way.  Godly sorrow for our sins is a turning away from them.

Christ died for the whole world, but He also died for your sins, your sins and my sins nailed Him to the cross.  Otherwise we would have to die the second death of which there is no return.  Christ died that death for us so we wouldn't have to.  That's where you see the goodness of God, giving His Son for a sinful world.  His love for us was that great. Are you willing to invite Him into your heart just now so that He can save you from your sins.  I am.   There is no better way.  Repentance is a life and death issue.  We do not dare to presume upon the goodness of God by procrastinating.  It is important when we feel guilty, to know that the Holy Spirit is working in our life to get us to repent and turn from our wicked ways.

James 4:7,8  "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you."  I love these verses because they promise a complete turn around in our lives.  Let us draw nigh continually and we will be victorious over sin in our lives.

Have you ever hurt someone and needed to repent.  It's hard isn't it, especially if you have pride in your heart.  It is a very humbling experience.  I know because I have been there, lots of time.  The after feeling is so good and such a relief and usually ends up being friends with the one you confessed to.  There are always those who are not willing to forgive.  I have encountered that too and it's hard to know that someone is not willing to forgive you.  And sometimes they are the one that did the wrong in the first place.  I read a story one time of two men that had a fractured relationship over something and they went on as enemies for some time.  Then one day the one decided it had gone on long enough and he decided he would take the blame, even though he believed the other man was in the wrong.  When he confessed that he was wrong, the other man broke down and confessed that he was the one that was wrong and they wept together and became friends again.  I would like to say that this is the way it should be even though it is hard to do.

I know I am not perfect but there is one thing I do know for sure and that is that I am not like I use to be, and if you are a Christian, you are probably not like you use to be either. Praise God for His unfailing love and forgiveness.  Grandma Joan


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