Guilt - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

 GUILT – THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

The slogan “Guilt – the gift that keeps on giving” reminds us of our wrongful actions and thoughts.    The Bible also teaches us how to recognize guilt in various forms but then gives us God’s instructions on how to deal properly with all guilt.  

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 32:5

We are built by God with a conscience so we can recognize and acknowledge our wrongs. Guilt becomes a true gift to us when it motivates us to deal with our wrongdoing so that we can be at peace with God, ourselves, and others. 

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

If we do not deal with our wrongdoing, guilt will fester and turn to shame.  It’s this shame that causes us so many problems.   Sometimes we try to overcome the shame we feel by justifying an offence, or by using our substance of choice to help us feel better.  Neither of these options work. 

The truth is that when we confess to God what we have done, He will forgive us and we will be freed from harmful shame.  Then we will have the right heart to go to those we have harmed to seek reconciliation.

Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away.  You bless them by saying, “You told me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I forgive you.”

Psalm 32:1-2

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of guilt that our conscience communicates to us when we go against Your will.  Help us to neither deny nor harbour the guilt.  Instead we pray for courage and humility to acknowledge our failure and deal with the source of the guilt quickly.  Amen

“Guilt – the gift that keeps on giving.”  Let’s keep the gift working in our lives only as the Lord intended. Have a great day.