Having a tough time in trying to renew my faith and devotion.

Phouglas

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I posted in the introduce yourself thread. In summary, I was raised Christian and had a good relationship into my late 20s. But my mom got cancer and suffered a long battle before passing away when I was 37.

I strayed from my faith because of fear and anger. I coped with the pain in unhealthy sinful ways. I’m now 46 and have basically come through the darkness and want to confess my sins and reaffirm my faith in God that He will forgive me.

But as I try to get close the shame and guilt of things I’ve done overwhelm me. Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
 

Presbyterian Continuist

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I posted in the introduce yourself thread. In summary, I was raised Christian and had a good relationship into my late 20s. But my mom got cancer and suffered a long battle before passing away when I was 37.

I strayed from my faith because of fear and anger. I coped with the pain in unhealthy sinful ways. I’m now 46 and have basically come through the darkness and want to confess my sins and reaffirm my faith in God that He will forgive me.

But as I try to get close the shame and guilt of things I’ve done overwhelm me. Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
If you have received Christ as your own personal Saviour (remember God does not have any grandchildren of those who were raised Christian by their parents) then your spiritual state is secure.

What you need to do is to do what you can for the highest good of God and for others around you. If your Christianity consists just in the way you feel about yourself, then that is a selfish Christianity, because selfish Christians are so caught up with themselves and their personal issues, that they give no thought for the needs of others, especially those all around them who are on the road to hell.

They way forward is to clear your accounts with God by confessing all known sins, one by one, receiving forgiveness and cleansing, then seeking how you can do deeds of goodness and kindness to those around you. You can start by doing up a prayer list of those whom you know need Christ as Saviour. Write their names in your diary, and start putting their names before God every day. Then ask God for opportunities to do deeds of kindness for them which will lead you to be able to speak to them about their souls and their need for Christ.

Doing this is not to get the praise of people, but to please God and because you care more about the perishing people around you than you care about yourself.

If you have the spirit of Christ you will live and do how Jesus live and what He did: He went around doing good, healing all those who were oppressed of the devil. He then, because He loved sinners more than He loved Himself and His own life, died on the cross and took our sin upon Himself, so that we could go free from guilt and punishment.
 
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GodsGrace101

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I posted in the introduce yourself thread. In summary, I was raised Christian and had a good relationship into my late 20s. But my mom got cancer and suffered a long battle before passing away when I was 37.

I strayed from my faith because of fear and anger. I coped with the pain in unhealthy sinful ways. I’m now 46 and have basically come through the darkness and want to confess my sins and reaffirm my faith in God that He will forgive me.

But as I try to get close the shame and guilt of things I’ve done overwhelm me. Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
No one is irredeemable....
God wants all to be saved...if only THEY want to.
If you want to...you will be.

1 Timothy 2:4-5
4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,



2 Peter 3:9
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

John 3:16-17
16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32
11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13“And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15“So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16“And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26“And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28“But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29“But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3-7
3So He told them this parable, saying, 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5“When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Confess your sins to God. Tell Him you want to come home, and then stop worrying about what God has forgotten.

 
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Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
At the expense of sounding a bit Stoic...2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

That would include we are to go by what His Word says over our guilt feelings. Take hold of the promises on forgiveness and don't let them go.
 
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Andrew77

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I posted in the introduce yourself thread. In summary, I was raised Christian and had a good relationship into my late 20s. But my mom got cancer and suffered a long battle before passing away when I was 37.

I strayed from my faith because of fear and anger. I coped with the pain in unhealthy sinful ways. I’m now 46 and have basically come through the darkness and want to confess my sins and reaffirm my faith in God that He will forgive me.

But as I try to get close the shame and guilt of things I’ve done overwhelm me. Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

You have to admit to yourself that G-d's word is true. And if you do, then you know that verse is absolute. Anyone who believes and calls on the Lord for forgiveness, *WILL* be saved.

You need to print that verse out, tape it to your mirror, and read it out loud, every single morning.
 
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Phouglas

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No one is irredeemable....
God wants all to be saved...if only THEY want to.
If you want to...you will be.

1 Timothy 2:4-5
4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,


2 Peter 3:9
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

John 3:16-17
16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32
11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13“And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15“So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16“And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26“And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28“But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29“But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3-7
3So He told them this parable, saying, 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5“When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Confess your sins to God. Tell Him you want to come home, and then stop worrying about what God has forgotten.

Thank you very much for this post.
 
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carp614

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I'm sorry I don't have specific scripture for you, but maybe this question could help?

Can you see how God pursued you while you were away? You may have to think on this for a time. It took a while for me to see how God pursued me when I left the church for a season. But eventually, I saw how God continued to pursue me and, like you, recognized how badly I needed him. I'm betting this experience is not unique to me.

If you were of no value to the Lord, why would He pursue you?
 
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LynnSmith

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I posted in the introduce yourself thread. In summary, I was raised Christian and had a good relationship into my late 20s. But my mom got cancer and suffered a long battle before passing away when I was 37.

I strayed from my faith because of fear and anger. I coped with the pain in unhealthy sinful ways. I’m now 46 and have basically come through the darkness and want to confess my sins and reaffirm my faith in God that He will forgive me.

But as I try to get close the shame and guilt of things I’ve done overwhelm me. Are there Bible sections that discuss how to deal with past sins and what to do, what God thinks, etc. The guilt is almost too much to bear. I don’t want to believe I’m irredeemable.
I’ve been there. Not the same circumstances but same result and it’s hard. I was thinking about this a bit ago. If I walked away from my husband for an amount of time, did things that’s I’m ashamed of and came back with a repented heart he wouldn’t just open his arms and love me the same. No one would. No one but God. To realize how much he loves you is the first step. Me personally, I’m a crier, so I’ve cried and cried to God these last few days as I pour out my heart, ask forgiveness for so many things. If he didn’t love you, you would be feeling this desire to come back. It’s your Father calling you because He loves you.
 
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