Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts

Feb 14, 2010

Lowly worms



Do you ever feel a vague sense of guilt or shame? A sense that you’re sinning, but you don’t know exactly how? A general feeling of being worthless and unacceptable before God, a lowly worm? If you do, you can be sure of one thing. Those feelings aren’t from God.

I can’t recall any example in Scripture of God convicting an individual of being a generally rotten person.

He always put His finger on a specific sin or sins. God gives us something tangible that we can deal with. When God convicts (convinces) a believer of his sin, it can be a very painful process. But it’s always with encouragement and hope—a way out. In the life of a believer, the sense of condemnation is never from God (Rom. 8:1). He always shows us something clear and concrete that we can understand.

Unless God clearly puts His finger on an area of our lives He wants to work on, we can confidently disregard that feeling of wrongness and guilt. It’s a lie. Yay!

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com

Feb 8, 2010

Scorning the Shame


Jesus absorbed evil on the cross. Look at Isaiah 53:

  • Jesus was despised and rejected (Isa 53:3)
  • He took up our infirmities (Isa 53:4)
  • He carried our sorrows (Isa 53:4)
  • Jesus was pierced for our transgressions (Isa 53:5)
  • He took the punishment that brought us peace (Isa 53:5)
  • He was crushed and suffered (Isa 53:10)

Jesus took on evil, but he scorned the shame (Hebrews 12:2).

He scorned the shame.

Jesus embraced evil, yet singled out shame and scorned it.

What does that mean? To be honest, I don't know exactly. To scorn means to "to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain" (Dictionary.com). At the least, this Scripture tells us that we have no business wallowing around in shame! As imitators of Christ and people forgiven by God, we must reject shame! Don't allow it to take root in your emotions or thoughts!

I would really appreciate your comments and insight regarding this post.

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com

May 24, 2009

God's gotcha covered, and more!

One of the great truths of Christianity is that the blood of Jesus covers our sin. We are forgiven, and when God looks down on us He sees, not our sin, but the blood of His Son:

Job 14:17
My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.

Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalm 85:2
You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
In years past, I was grateful for this covering, but my misunderstanding of it gave me a sense of separation from God and made me feel like a filthy worm merely disguised by the Blood. Then God showed me there was more. I was no longer just a "sinner saved by grace." His blood doesn't only cover our sin, it cleanses us.

Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Jeremiah 33:8
I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Ezekiel 36:25
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

Zechariah 13:1
On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. [That fountain is the blood of Christ.]

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Our sins are not just covered, they have been washed away by the blood of Christ! We are no longer "bad" and "wrong." We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), imperishable (1 Peter 1:23), created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). The sacrifice of Jesus (received by faith) has made us good, likable people. (In our new, redeemed nature we are good [washed clean]. We are still responsible for our sin, but not identified by it, see The Two Yous.)

The foundation of self-esteem is first that we are created by God, second that we are loved by God, and third that we are made good in the truest part of ourselves by God. Don't disagree with what God thinks about you! Learn to like the new you!

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
PHOTO: Baby Mine Store

Nov 5, 2008

The Clever Disguise


If we revel in our own glory, we're giving ourselves too much credit.

RoseRoseRose

If we wallow in our sinfulness, we're giving ourselves too much credit.
"...the ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling concentration upon self ...
is the mark of Hell."
~ C.S. Lewis

Though one is cleverly disguised, they are each forms of pride.
The cross has taken care of both.

Rose

Soli Deo Gloria!

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With inspiration from my DH Mike this time.
Thanks Mikey!



Come visit us at www.warrenfamilylife.com

Sep 11, 2008

Guilt vs. Guidance



I believe God never motivates His children by fear or guilt. Those are tools of the Enemy. The moment we received Christ’s gift of salvation, we were made completely clean in the blood of the Lamb. Our guilt is taken away!

When the Holy Spirit convicts us, wants us to go somewhere or do something, He comes up alongside us. You can almost feel His arm around you and see Him pointing with the other hand, "We're headed over this way. Let's take the first step together." And something resonates within you and wants to go, is ready to go, even if its out of your comfort zone.

However, if instead, one has a guilty, obligatory, I-really-should feeling coming from the outside, if it feels like a weight on the shoulders, it’s probably not God, for the law is no longer written on tablets of stone but on our living hearts.

Another red flag is when it feels like, “I have to have it and I have to have it NOW!” That’s probably the loudmouthed sin nature. The voice of the S/spirit is soft and still.

If a desire or direction comes from God, it grows like a pressure within the heart, or “gut,” trying to get out. It may be something you want very much (or not) but there is peace and assurance. That’s God wanting to express Himself through you. Don’t be afraid to follow! Let’s both learn to live from the inside out!

Cyndi Hearts
warrenfamilylife.com
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