Counterfeit Guilt

Read:

Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.”

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Think:

Guilt is an essential response to sin. However, if we aren’t careful, it stops becoming a reaction to sin and becomes a lifestyle that directs our decisions. We can pitch a tent and start living with condemnation as our roommate! Guilt will affect our perception of the truth and lead us into a life of condemnation.

Condemn means “to express judgment, show disapproval of, and to pronounce unfit for use or service.” It shackles a person. Condemnation screams out our mistakes and failures until we believe our unworthiness. We are left with shame. We become prisoners of fear and anxiety.

How can you recognize guilt and condemnation? Your actions and words are full of justifications, lies, anger, or criticism. Your mind is covered with assumptions and unwanted feelings. Words like unwanted, unloved, and unworthy clog your mind. They are all lies! Jesus didn’t come to break the hold of sin and yet leave us shackled to the power of it. He died to erase and eradicate sin and its power. He died to offer forgiveness. Jesus replaces our guilt with grace. And His grace sets us free.

Act:

Ask God to help you identify the lies that you are believing. Read His Word daily and begin to renew your mind and replace your thoughts with God’s thoughts about you.

Pray:

Jesus, remove these lies that I believe. Replace them with the grace that You have offered. Amen.