"Beyond Guilt"

Day #113 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Your beliefs about these things should be kept secret between you and God. People are happy if they can do what they think is right, without feeling guilty." Romans 14:22 NCV

"Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong." (Romans 14:22-23 MSG)

"You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning." (Romans 14:22-23 NLT)
 
Checking out the same verse in different translations is always a good thing... because sometimes translations change word meanings around, or the intent of what is being said is changed as well. Judging others is a huge topic of discussion in the world and in the church unfortunately. There are absolute truths about 'sin', yet there are also those things which we may deem 'bad' or 'sinful' for our own selves, or our family. We cannot force those beliefs onto others. We should not make ourselves feel guilty, nor should we make others feel guilty about their choices. Guilt is not of the Father. We do need to follow our own convictions regarding the absolute truth given from the Father through His Word -- but we still cannot judge nor apply guilt to those who aren't following the truths from His Word. God's answer to sin and guilt is FORGIVENESS. We need to apply the same forgiveness to those around us. But our worldly forgiveness is not at all like the forgiveness of the Father. He loves and forgives us unconditionally, without reservation and totally completely -- we in the world hold grudges and our natural carnal self enjoys throwing 'guilt' in people's faces. We don't truly 'forgive and forget'. Being a part of the 'Facebook' social thing allows you to see the status' and comments from others, which include those that wish to imply guilt and the likes. A status line from one of my 'friends' says this today, "it is best to forgive and forget then to live with regret so I'll forgive you and forget you so I won"t have to regret falling for your bs..." and it got me thinking regarding this 'Beyond Guilt' devotional. We are not meant to live with regret, nor with guilt. Forgiveness is forgiveness... what we forgive, who we forgive, how many times we forgive, all affect the Father's forgiveness for us. He is a God of love and forgiveness, mercy and grace -- yet if we choose to leave others with regret, guilt and shame, it's hard for the Father to show His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness towards us. Sin cannot be in the same presence as the Father -- Feelings of guilt and shame cause us to 'miss the mark', so they infact cause us to sin. Sin is not just 'doing or being involved in the bad things', it is also 'not doing the good things' that He has called us to do.
 
If you have feelings of guilt or shame (or other sinful thoughts & feelings), lay them down at the foot of the cross this Easter weekend. God sent His Son Jesus to die for those 'sinful' feelings & more --  Just allow the power of God the Father to work through you, through the precious blood of His Son Jesus, and the overwhelming presence, power and love of Holy Spirit. Let Him overtake your body, mind, soul and spirit cleansing you throughout, so that you may RISE AGAIN (just as Jesus did) in the newness of life.
 

 
"One of satan's most effective ploys is to make us believe that we are small, insignificant and worthless" (Susan Lenzkes) -- But remember God's best gift (His Son Jesus) proves that we are indeed worth more than that, and that he himself (satan) is under our feet, which makes him small, insignificant and worthless. We need to stop giving satan more power and strength than he has.
 
Enjoy this blessed EASTER weekend, remembering ALL that God has done for you, and think of all the great things that He can and will continue to do for you!
 
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"His Answer to our Guilt"

DAY #21 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

What is 'guilt'? According to dictionary.com guilt is defined as;
–noun

1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.

When we do something wrong, or sin, which we ALL have done we feel guilty sometimes about committing that sin. Guilt can be an intense feeling that tries to rob us of all the benefits of the Father. We think that the Father doesn't love us anymore, or that He is not going to bless us because of our sin. We can get troubled, and worried and even stressed over our guilt. God doesn't want to see us in bondage to our guilt. There is an easy way to lose guilt... forgiveness!

God wants us to be remorseful or sorry for our sin, and to repent of it. If we confess our sins to Him, He will forgive us thoroughly and unconditionally. He puts our sin away from Him and us as far as the east is from the west. ("...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 NIV) He wants us to live a fulfilled life, holy and pure as He is holy. We cannot be in the presence of God filled with sin in our lives, we cannot fully participate in the blessings that He has with sin in our lives.

All of us have sinned, and we all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) and the consequence for sin is death. But thankfully, God has made a way for us through His Son Jesus, so that we may live. Jesus died ONCE AND FOR ALL, so that we may live eternally through Him and His Father. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

As today's verse found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, IF and when we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways (or repent and get rid of guilt), THEN He will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sins (and our guilt), and He will heal us! Praise the Lord! Isn't that good news?

So step out in faith today, speak to the Father, and tell Him of your heart. Are you full of guilt or bitterness, or even depression or anger? Leave them all at the feet of Jesus, and He will take your requests to His Father, who will do what He says He will do! You can count on God... others may let you down, but God's Word is true and will remain forever! <3

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!