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There are many people in this world who find that their life is hindered
because of some mistake that they made in the past that they can't put
behind them. They have a sense of guilt that lies deep within their heart
and they can't let it go, forgive themselves and move forward in life.
What we must always remember and recognize is that guilt is like an
invisible chain that can keep our life locked up, and in turn we become
stagnant and unproductive. What we must do is rest in God's forgiveness
and realize that if God forgave us for our past shortfalls, then we should
also forgive ourselves and move forward in life reaching the goals and
desires that were once so evident in our hearts. Having feelings of
constant guilt does not come from the Lord. The Bible says that God
wishes for us to be at peace, to be filled with hope and to rest in His
forgiveness. The enemy is the one who wants us to relive our past
mistakes and he is the one who reminds us of our shortfalls trying to make
us believe the lie that we are unworthy to move ahead in life.
When we realize that God's forgiveness covers our past, we will no longer
be stuck in the rut of the past, but we will be reinvigorated to face each
new day with hope, joy and zeal. Living in the past only hinders our
future. When we constantly remember our past mistakes and shortfalls, we
will be discouraged, disheartened and unable to move forward to reach the
heights of victory that are in our future. We are in essence canceling
the blessings ahead because we are so focused on the mistakes of the
past. Our feelings of guilt keeps us locked up even though God has given
us the key to be free. He wishes for us to rest in Him, but that is
solely in our hands.
Be encouraged to look forward in life. Let go of the guilt, forget the
past and start living for your future. If you have confessed your sins to
the Lord and asked Him to forgive you, then you have a clean slate and an
unlimited future in God's eyes. Rest in His forgiveness and learn to love
life again. Don't focus on the past. Let the past stay there and look
ahead towards a brighter day with new hopes, new dreams and new joys. You
can do it because with God all things are possible.
I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to move forward
in life and stop living in the past. Yesterday is gone, but today has
unlimited potential. Use it to your benefit.
BLOWING OUT YOUR GUILT
I read of a New Jersey artist who capitalized on people's need to let go
of the past by selling them “guilt kits.” Each kit contained ten
disposable brown paper bags and a set of instructions which said, “Place
bag securely over your mouth, take a deep breath and blow the guilt out.
Dispose of bag immediately.” Amazingly, about 2,500 kits sold at $2.50
each. But perhaps not so amazing when you think of the guilt many of us
carry around.
Of course, guilt serves its purpose. More than once I made a better
decision so that I could look myself in the mirror without blushing. And
the kits probably also serve a purpose - if nothing else, to remind us to
get rid of those unnecessary and destructive feelings we seem to have so
much trouble shaking.
But if blowing in a bag doesn't do it for you, then you might try another
man's method. He hired a friend to go into therapy for him. He says he
always hires other people to carry his baggage.
And if that doesn't work, here are a few simple steps that that should get
at the problem:
First, if you make a mistake, resolve to try never to repeat it. The whole
function of guilt is to change behavior.
We underrate our mistakes as effective learning devises. When possible,
welcome your mistake, learn from it and decide to do things differently
next time.
Second, seek forgiveness from any others who were affected. If possible,
make amends.
In Ernest Hemingway's short story “The Capitol of the World,” a Spanish
father decides to reconcile with his son who has run away. Now remorseful,
the father takes out a newspaper ad in El Liberal: “Paco, meet me at Hotel
Montana noon Tuesday. All is forgiven.” When the father goes to the square
he is surprised to find eight hundred young men named Paco waiting for
their fathers. We can't underestimate the need for reconciliation and
wholeness.
Finally, forgive yourself. No purpose is served in continuing to whip
yourself over past events you can do nothing about. And how will you truly
learn to love when there is one person in your life you refuse to
completely forgive?
If you follow these steps, you can rid yourself of unnecessary guilt. You
will find that you are happier and healthier - and you can save all those
brown paper bags for lunch.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 51:8-12 “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy
spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me
with thy free spirit.”
Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not
hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and
passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth
not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn
again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and
thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
Psalm 139:17-18 “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how
great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number
than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
Today's Selected Poem: HE IS IN CONTROL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem142.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: RESCUED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony37.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
