Have you ever noticed how Satan questions you about your past? He often reminds you of the mistakes you’ve made and that you don’t deserve the peace and joy that God has to offer.
God will take you as you are. When we can’t release the guilt of our past, it keeps us from loving to the fullness God has for us. We aren’t trapped in the sin of the past. God is greater than our worried hearts and our guilt. He knows us better than we know ourselves. And because of that we can move on.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for when3ver our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive for him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 3:19-24
We express love, or the lack of it to others in 3 levels:
Murder. Actually killing someone in an act of rage or premeditation.
Hate. Even though we use the word hate in diluted state, God says that hate equals murder.
Indifference. You could help because you have the ability to help, but you don’t care enough to act.
Words and Action. This is the level God demands of us. We are to meet the needs of others, love them, and tell them all about Him and how much he loves us. But our guilt keeps us from loving at this level on a regular basis.
Guilt produces 3 things:
Legalism. In trying to protect ourselves from failing, we make strict rules that we judge others by that we can’t live up to ourselves.
Pride. We measure ourselves against others in our lives by position, what we own, how we perform, or how righteous we are.
Defeat. We’ve already messed up so badly there’s no point in trying to do better now.
So how do we beat the guilt, the thing that keeps us from loving? We choose to love.
3 things a believer gets when they practice Christian love:
Assurance. Understanding that God loves us gives us confidence to love others. It’s a choice we make.
Confidence in our prayers. If we are obedient to God, we can have faith that our prayers will be answered. We are obedient when we love like Jesus loves us. When we are disobedient, it reinforces our past failures.
The more we walk with God: the more we begin to pray for the things that matter most to Him. We begin to experience answered prayers because our desires change.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
Believe in Christ. Love one another. Go ask forgiveness. Give forgiveness. Show them love.
The world says; “I saw what you did.” “I assume to know why you did it.” “I’ve determined who you are and what you will be because of it. “I’ll never let you rise above or forget your failings.”
God says; I saw what you did. I know exactly why you did it.
I forgave you long before you did it. I paid the price to restore you.
I know your heart. I know the real you. The you I created you to be. I never have and never will stop loving you. No matter what.
Don’t let guilt bog you down to the point you can’t continue to function. God is our refuge and we can find hope in him!
Where God Leads 