Why Do I Feel Guilty? (1)

Many of us are plagued with a nagging sense of guilt--sometimes repeatedly throughout the day. Where do these feelings come from?

One source of guilt feelings is our unrealistic expectations.   We can crawl into bed exhausted from a long day of work and frenzied attempts to accomplish everything on our “to do” list. However, our minds think more about all the work we didn’t do rather than what we did accomplish.  We say things like, “Whatever we do, somehow it never seems to be quite enough.”  We think that in order to be a successful person we need to overload ourselves with ambitious plans or take on those extra things others ask us to do.  When faced with situations like this we need to remember Jesus' words to the multitude who asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” He replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent” (John 6:29 NIV). To believe Jesus sacrifice is sufficient is the real work to which He calls us, not the many works we busy ourselves with to gain His approval or perhaps someone else’s approval.  We need to live in ways that make good use of our time but not live as slaves to what we physically cannot achieve.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have be-fore, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.  (Galatians 5:19-23 NLT)

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