Do you live with guilt and shame? Are there things you have done in the past that you wish you had not done? Are there things you keep hidden, not wanting anyone to ever find out about? Do you carry them in a deep-down dark place? Do you know you can be set free?
We do some really stupid things sometimes. We also do some things we know we shouldn’t do, but they may be our favorite sin and we don’t want to give them up. We feel guilty. We carry the guilt and shame of them. We desire to do better but continue to stumble.
The prophet Isaiah knew long ago that God would forgive him. He stated that when we are followers of his, we are no longer guilty. When God forgives us, we are truly forgiven. We are set free from the burden of guilt…unless we choose to continue to carry it. And therein lies the problem. We carry what we no longer need to carry.
Jesus tells us to take on His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Rather than carry around our guilt and shame, we are to live free in Jesus. Our guilt has been forgiven and there is no shame in Jesus. Make no mistake, we should desire to grow to be like Jesus, giving up our sinful ways. But we don’t have to carry around the guilt of falling short while we mature in our faith and grow to being more like Him.
God, our heavenly father, forgives us because of what Jesus has done. He knows we are fallible human beings. He sent his Holy Spirit to guide us. But in God’s infinite wisdom he knows we are still frail people who fall prey to Satan’s temptations. He loves us so much that he died on a cross for us. His love continues from yesterday to today to all eternity. We are to live free in his love and returning his love to him.
I pray we all know that God loves us more than we can comprehend. I pray we know we are forgiven through Jesus Christ. I pray each one of us will live free of guilt and shame. Know God loves you. Love God with your whole heart. Know you are forgiven. Release your guilt. Rid yourself of shame. Live free.
Isaiah 50:9a
It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Marty Pressey 