Why Do I Feel Guilty? (3)

For the past couple of days we've been thinking about guilt - why we feel guilty and what we should do about it.  Some people have the mistaken impression that it is always wrong to feel guilty.  We need to sort out if our guilt is destructive because of our self-accusation or truly is legitimate because of our wrongdoing.  It is healthy to admit the truth of our wrongs and therefore, the source of our guilt.  God gives us His Holy Spirit to live inside us to help us sort out what is actually the underlying cause of what is going on inside us.

When He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11 NKJV)

When the Spirit convicts us about sin in our lives, we feel both sorrow and the hope of restoration. The Spirit reveals those things that oppose God’s way
and harm us. He also shows us how He wants to free us, restore us, and lead us back on the path of obedience.  Satan wants us to wallow in condemnation and guilt.  God wants us to reach out for grace and healing as soon as we realize we have done those things we ought not to have done and have not done those things we ought to have done. With God's help we can be quick to confess, and make amends.  We can open our heart to receive forgiveness and healing.  We can welcome God's Spirit to work in us as we willingly surrender to truth and obey God’s word.  God wants us to be free, truly free today.  Admitting valid guilt and receiving forgiveness and restoration is God's way of eliminating the guilt we are currently feeling.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  (James 5:16 NLT)

©2013 Partners in Hope