Guilt, Day 4

Guilt, Day 4

Women keep a special corner of their hearts for sins they have never committed. - Cornelia Otis Skinner

Psalm 19:12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

How many people do you know that are plagued with guilt? Many Christians worry that they may have committed a sin unknowingly, done something good with selfish intentions, or failed to put their whole heart into a task. They also feel that they may have neglected something that needed to be done. Guilt plays a huge role in our lives. It can draw us away from our Lord and keep us from behaving properly. It should not cripple us or make us fearful. God fully and completely forgives us when we ask, even for the things we do not even know we have done. Pray through Psalm 19:12-14 when you are feeling guilty, God will be sure to restore you. It is important for us to live our lives free of guilt. Now is a good time to evaluate our lives. What are our motives, dreams and aspirations built on? Is there a motivation from guilt. With the many roles that we each must play in our lives, it is sometimes hard to know what we were created for and what is expected of us. IF you are feeling a constant pull in your life from what you feel you have to do and what you know God wants, then pray about it. Many times we feel we need to help so and so because they helped us, or that we have to be on the PTA, or coach a team or join a committee because it is expected. This can cause a great deal of guilt later on in life when you look back and see that you struggled against God's will and others expectations. So do all things in Christ, not in guilt. Many times we are so ready to take responsibility for everything that we are constantly feeling guilty. If someone is feeling down or depressed it must be something we have done. If our children aren't doing well, involved in all the popular activities, it must be our fault. We are ready to take on the guilt of the world. It makes no difference whether we have done wrong or not, we feel we must be responsible. There are plenty of people around us who will support us in these illusions of guilt, and it is unfortunate. Taking on guilt is self-centered. This is different than carrying burdens for others. It is thinking we have to be responsible for everything that happens that makes ourselves the center of everything and takes the focus from God to ourselves. Go ahead and raise your hand if you know what I am talking about. Now is a good time to start simplifying your life, making sure to let others take responsibility for themselves and ridding your life of guilt and self-centered actions.

Dear Lord, thank you for your Word, forgiveness and a healthy conscience of what is right and wrong. I love you. I am thankful for your love. Please bless those who are reading this. Help them to be able to take your Word into their lives and become more like you every day. Amen.

Please pray for Bobbie W. this week. Also, please send in your praises and prayers or any testimonies or stories related to this weeks study on Guilt. I am sure that God will use your story to encourage others. Have a blessed day.