Dealing with guilt trips

Chuck7 · 06-23-2005, 03:26 PM

Dear Friends,
There are many here on this forum that has been crippled by sin and have been carrying a load of guilt and condemnation. You have tried going to the alter , praying and reading your Bible to no advail, You are crippled and your faith appears to be ship wrecked. I have been among this number and have gotten through it. I will not share my past sins which are too many to name anyway. Those who have dealt with this issue please testify how God has gotten you through.
Here's how God has helped me.
1. Stop shifting the responsibility and saying well all have sinned anyway. Own up to it.
YOU HAVE BLOWN IT. You have willfully sinned against God. And too many times to count. You know that they that practice sin have a dreadful future and that is why the condemnation. Stop shifting the blame to the church your childhood or whatever.
Proverbs28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
I have a little secret. I have another hunter on here that he and I examine our lives daily and are transparent/ honest with each other about our struggles. That has helped a ton. I HATE confessing my sin...but I do. You may want to also find an understanding brother that you can trust.

2. YES , We also confess our sins to God ,and we do have the promice ..which He cannot lie that says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The key word there is ALL. If you feel it or not you need to claim that one. Act upon it and thank Him for forgiving you.

3.Folks ,if I am going to stand before judgment I want to stand before mercy. I use to live under so much guilt from being divorced. I fasted for 2 days once over this issue and the Lord laid this verse out of James on my heart." Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! THAT IS THE REASON WHY I talk so much about love. Because I want to be shown mercy on judgment day. Also you have no idea how many different benefits/ blessings come immediately to those who dare to walk in love.
Sin is usually selfishness.Folks, lovenot only cleanses a multitude of sins away ,but thinks about others which is the opposite of selfishness. Once you focus on loving people the burden of guilt seems to disappear.

4. Also...as Strut said a few post ago. Remove yourself from the temptation.2 Corinthians 6 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We had a family meeting and together decided to unhook the TV quite awhile ago. That has helped a ton. Most guys have a lust problem. That my friends starts with the eyes.

5. Seek good fellowship. This forum does that for me. It's the best Christian fellowship I've had in years.
All of these combined has helped free me of guilt and shame and once again the joy of the Lord is my strenghth.
Brother Chuck
PS " IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSES US FROM ALLLLLL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND WEEE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER.
Fellowship means friends. That's one of the best parts.I've never had so many friends in my life. I reckond if I wan tto keep these friends I'd better keep walking in the light. Good incentive.

Good fire insurance too.

MOTOWNHONKEY · 06-23-2005, 06:22 PM

Nice post Chuck7. Alot of men see God as though he is hovering over you and just waiting for you to make a mistake. I think alot of it comes from the way us older guys were raised, with a stiff hand and harsh words from our fathers. Think of the love you have for your childrenor grand children. If they fall you pick them up and hold them close and they can feel your love and you can feel theirs. If you have teenagers you know they can be trying. Even when they do the worst things you thought were possible you there ready to lift them up and forgive them, not once, or twice, or 7,but 7times 77 you love them they are your children. Gods love for us is so much greater than that. He is not over bearing and looking at you with harsh eyes, he wants to lift you up andhold you just as you do your child. We are his children, he made us. Put aside your guilt brothers and look to god, not above you but at eye level with his arms opened wide a smile on his face. Don,t let satin rid you with guilt. It is the truth god wants you know and you already know it and the truth has set you free, yes free from guilt and the oppression of sin. Recieve it friends, a free gift from christ all mighty. Our guilt has already been paid for on the cross,our past and future sins were already paid for on that glorious cross. The deciever is the maker of guilt and doubt. Don,t let him put a wedge in between you and your father.

Chuck7 · 06-23-2005, 06:33 PM

Very nice reply,
Nothing worse than being out of fellowship with God. Gettin to old for this yo yo life. I'm ready to start living in Christ. It's a shame it took so long walking in circles in the wilderness.
Chuck

strut · 06-23-2005, 07:33 PM

We need to forgive ourselves, When God forgives us of sin in our life they are forgiven and forgotten, like they never happened, If we carry a guilt trip around on our shoulders it is not good, we need to understand that we are sinners and we are going to sin but we can be forgiven of that sin and we don't need to beatourselvesup with the guilt of sin that God has forgiven.

Chuck7 · 06-23-2005, 07:55 PM

Amen.. We need to just simply believe that.
Chuck

skins38 · 06-23-2005, 08:06 PM

I myself am in a deep struggle right now. I want to do right and what God wants for me but most of the time i fail when confronted with this sin. I try and read my Bible and pray but i always say ill do it later type thing and i never end up doing it. What do i need to do to get out of this struggle?

strut · 06-23-2005, 08:19 PM

Skins, we all struggle with different things in our lives, something that maybe easy for you to do may be a major problem for me to accomplish, Just don't ever give up in wanting to do the right thing, when you have convictions that what you are doing is wrong thats not all bad, its when you get to the point to where it don't bother you at all to do whats wrong is when one really gets into to trouble with sin.

Just keep on keeping on.

Chuck7 · 06-23-2005, 08:22 PM

I sent you a private message. We will be praying for ya brother. You have some serious brothers on this forum that will lift you up .
Chuck

Chuck7 · 06-23-2005, 08:27 PM

Like Strut said....the biggest problem is when we don't feel bad about them anymore.
Chuck

Leafrivermac · 06-24-2005, 05:59 AM

As far as past sins, God has cast them all in the Sea Of Forgetfullness. Their gone, forgotten, and I have no desire to remind Him. With what I deal with now, I know that I can be an overcomer thru Christ Jesus. If we resist the devil he will lose. An observation I have madein my life . .I have always struggled with temper, sometimes I find myself going to that area again, and when I do I get really bummed out that I have acted so much in the flesh. I could wonder if I was even saved when this happens. But when I look back to my pre christian and early christian days I can see that God has done a work in my life in that area. Theres no comparison between then and now. It has been a struggle, but I can see that by hanging on to Christ I am becoming an overcomer in this area of my life.