LBS: "Strength in Times of Guilt" Developing Inner Strength

LBS

Most people develop their God concept based upon the behavior of their parents. From the perspective of a lonely, anxious insecure child, God can seem hard or harsh. As adults some may feel God is such a mystery and we never truly feel He is accessible. No matter how much we read the Bible, we feel that we could have read more. No mater how much we pray we feel we could be praying more. The end result is a heavy emotional baggage of pervasive guilt.

We may spend years trying

•  to get good enough for God to approve of us,
•  to perform for God so that we might reward us, and
•  to do enough good works so that we can get over an abiding sense of guilt that we aren't doing enough for God.

The good news of the Gospel is that the provision for our salvation, and for total forgiveness of our sins, and a change of our sin nature has been made in full by Jesus Christ. There's nothing more we can add to it. We can only receive  this free gift of God's mercy and love.

The first step toward removing the emotional pain of guilt in your life is to receive God's forgiveness. After receiving God's forgiveness, all feelings of guilt may not be removed. The emotional baggage of pervasive guilt will continue to manifest itself periodically. It doesn't mean God has not forgiven you.
All Christians continue to sin and to give in to temptation even after we are born again. Many times Christians don't know what to do with these "sins".
(Rom 6:1-2) First understand that the desire for sin is greatly diminished upon experiencing God's forgiveness.

Second, the Bible acknowledges the fact that even after we are born again we often err. (Rom 7:15) It is in those times that we must come to God praying,"Im struggling. I'm not doing well. I'm failing. Please forgive me and help me." Forgiveness is granted to the Christian the moment it is requested. Our feeling forgiven, however, may take some time.

Third, ....

Fourth, ....


The third step to  being guilt free is to remember ....


False guilt occurs when a person feels that...




...... See you at the next LBS to learn more:)