WEEK 4
DAY 26- HELP US BE FREE FROM GUILT AND SHAME
Scripture- Psalm 103:8-14; Romans 8:1-2
If there is a struggle with living free from guilt and shame, it’s not uncommon for there also to be a struggle with believing in the goodness of God. Who you believe God to be will reflect what you believe about yourself. In His goodness, Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead—according to the Scripture—to set you free not only from sin and death but also from guilt and shame. However, the enemy will ride guilt and shame on the back of conviction in the form of false claims:
You are so ______. I can’t believe you would _______. You’ll never _______.
Then, with a subtle shift, “you” turns to “they”: They think you’re so _______. They can’t believe you would _________. They think you’ll never ________.
And gradually “they” becomes “I”: I am so _______. I can’t believe I would ______. I’ll never _______. And when you tell yourself a lie long enough, you’ll eventually believe it.
Conviction does not equal condemnation. Conviction is the feeling of having done something wrong; condemnation is the impending punishment for what you did wrong. In His goodness, Jesus received your punishment; therefore, you are no longer condemned.
Living free from guilt and shame doesn’t come without practice. Being able to recognize the enemy’s false claims only comes after having realized you’ve believed a lie. Once you’ve learned how to identify the voice of the enemy, you can extinguish false claims with the truth of God’s goodness: You’ve been acquitted, and the Lord has honored you.
REFLECTION PRAYER
(Pray aloud) Jesus, help me. I am struggling with living free from guilt and shame.
I confess that sometimes it’s hard for me to trust in Your goodness. When I’m convicted for repeatedly doing the wrong thing, I feel like such a failure.
I renounce the lies that “I’ll never be able to quit,” and that “You’re disappointed in me.” I choose to believe that You will help me and that You take joy in me because Your Word says I am no longer a slave to sin but to righteousness—and You smile on me. Amen.
By Caesar (Chavo) Chavez