Today’s Promise
September 15, 2022
You Can Live Above Guilt and Shame
We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
1 John 3:19-20
Do you struggle with guilt? Do you often feel condemned? Today we are claiming the promise of guilt-free living.
Guilt and Shame
For many Christians, guilt is a way of life. When they pray, they feel overwhelmed by a sense of guilt and shame. Every time a service opportunity comes along, they feel unworthy for God to use them. They live a frustrated Christian life because they focus on their guilt instead of Christ’s forgiveness.
Many Christians confuse their guilty feelings with God’s conviction. Guilty feelings just make you feel bad. They lead to nowhere. When God convicts you of a sin, it is to bring about repentance and restoration.
How Guilt Works
Let me give you a few thoughts to help you understand how guilt works in your life.
First, it is true; sometimes, you feel guilty because you are. When you sin, the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart about that sin to bring about repentance. You must understand that the Holy Spirit reminds you of a sin so you can repent and live in victory over it. God convicts you for a purpose; to bring about a change in your life.
Once you confess and repent of that sin, God never brings it up again. God removes your sin as far as the east is to the west. (Ps. 103:12)
The problem begins when you start listening to your feelings instead of the Holy Spirit.
False Guilt
Sometimes you have a hard time forgiving yourself. Too often, you watch the reruns of your past sins and mistakes and feel guilty. You ask forgiveness again and again, but nothing seems to happen. Because of this, you feel unworthy, unloved, and condemned; this is false guilt.
False guilt is Satan’s tool to keep you beaten down and ashamed. When you feel guilty, but there is nothing you can do about it, it’s false guilt. When you confess your sin, but you still feel condemned, it’s false guilt.
Satan uses false guilt to make you feel ashamed and condemned. You can’t move forward in your walk with Jesus because your false guilt is always before you.
God desires for you to live a guilt-free life by the power of the Holy Spirit. When you sin, you repent, receive forgiveness, and move forward in your Christian life. The blood of Jesus removes your guilt.
Look at that promise again.
We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. – 1 John 3:19-20
Make these confessions.
- In Jesus Christ, I am free from guilt and condemnation.
- I know that sometimes my heart condemns me.
- I will listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice over what my heart says.
- I live guilt-free because of the blood of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
You can live guilt-free because your sin has been forgiven. When Satan whispers in your ear about your past sins, remind him that God has taken your sin and placed it as far as the east is from the west.
I’d love to share the promises of God with your church. “Claiming the Promises” teaches you how to apply the promises of God in your life. If your church is interested in hosting a seminar, contact our ministry office at 817-428-5994 for more information.
Are you living above guilt and shame today? (Share in the comments below)
Yes, I believe I stand forgiven in front of God and in my sight. Jesus’ sacred blood has washed away my sins and there is no need to feel guilty anymore. Satan cannot deceive me or do any harm to me.
Thank You Lord for your mercy and grace.
Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.