Diffusing Guilt

Guilt is a destructive emotion. It is the vicious weapon of the adversary. Guilt builds up in response to the devil's accusation. The devil points fingers at us and accuses us of our wrongdoing. He does this in order to make us feel unworthy and obscure our identity as children of God. The deceiver does so after luring us into sin. and, more often than not, getting us hooked on and addicted to the wrong. Guilt plunges us deep into sin and shame. It is the devil's tool to keep us bound in darkness.

The opposite emotion is repentance. Repentance is the desire to return to one's inherent goodness. While guilt is the response to the devil's accusation, repentance is the response to God's merciful love. Repentance draws us closer to God. The question is, "Who do we choose to listen to when you trip and fall?"

Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

When faced with guilt, consciously choose to believe the truth that you are a child of God, no matter what. In order to ground us, the devil primarily targets our identity. But when we choose to reclaim our indelible status as the Almighty's offspring, we begin to experience God's merciful and unwavering love toward us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Repentance is the first step in rooting out habitual sins. Repentance brings confession, confession brings forgiveness, and forgiveness brings sanctifying grace and the freedom to live truly as a child of God. When we live as children of God, the devil can no longer bind us in guilt.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

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