Let Go Of Your Guilt
If I could encourage you to let go of one false emotion this Christmas season it would be guilt. We all feel guilt over things we shouldn’t have said or done, or things we should have said or done. I recently asked people what they feel guilty for and the responses were very similar. Responses such as time with family/kids/God, parenting or lack there of, anger, communication, life decisions and regrets, addictions, where money is spent and the lack of generosity, self-care/rest/me time, etc.
Guilt is a real emotion we all feel, but it is a liar and a thief and has been robbing some of us of the best moments of our lives. In fact, there is no such thing as guilt in the Kingdom of God and I’ll prove it. In John 20, the first message Jesus told his disciples to preach after the cross was to proclaim the permanent reality of a forgiven state of being for all people. The only reason people feel guilty is because The Church hasn’t done a good job telling the world they’re forgiven. All of humanity has been right with God for 2,000 years but if you don’t believe it, it won’t matter.
If your sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God, why are you holding on to them?
If there’s no condemnation in Christ, why are you condemning yourself?
If there’s no guilt found at the Father’s table, why are you sitting at the table with a plate full of guilt?
Now some will say that guilt is a good thing. That guilt led someone to make something right. I’ve even heard a pastor once say, “Guilt is like a broken bone, letting you know something needs to be fixed.” Although I understand the thought process, it’s still not a right thought. Why? Because God never uses guilt to motivate you to do something right. The motivation always stems from love. You seek reconciliation not because you feel guilty but because you love.
So let it go!
How?
Recognize where you feel guilty.
Release it. This will be a continual process. When you don’t release it, you focus on it. When you focus on it, it doesn’t lead to a change in action…it actually leads to repetition.
Rewire your thinking. Write truth out on sticky notes or on your bathroom mirror. Speak your identity found in Christ over your life every day.
Redevelop your habits. Write out your weekly schedule and goals. If it’s not written, it’s not real. Challenge yourself to be generous. Don’t just have good intentions because your intentions mean nothing if you don’t follow through. Set reminders on your phone to be encouraging to others. You will have to put in some work to redevelop habits in your life but your future self will thank you for it. Don’t wait until New Years. Do it now!
Repeat the process. Give yourself grace!
In order to live free you must let go of your guilt.