Help with past guilt

[Beslowtoanger]

Hi all

I have recently asked for forgiveness and repented. I have changed a lot in my life and removed all things pertaining to sin, physically and emotionally, however because I know I hurt Jesus so much during my prior years, I carry a huge sense of guilt because this must have upset God and how terribly disappointed he was in me.

I pray daily, I fall to sleep with God and wake up with God, but I still find myself in this perpetual state of saying sorry in my prayer.

Because my change to a new Christian life is so meaningful, I am doing my best to educate myself, but this also leads to comfort and fear in equal measure……anxiety often leads me more to fear that I am not forgiven and my destination is set……….I believe with all my heart in the Holy Trinity but having had years of doing what I wanted without considering God, I’m struggling with the change.

I feel ashamed that I found God as a young child, my parents were not believers but Christ came to me and I knew the truth. How utterly shameful to then reject him, even though at various times of trial I went back to him. This time it’s different, I feel like a new person, I want to give love, kindness, compassion, faithfulnes, forgiveness. I ask the spirit to remove, anger, resentment, bitterness, selfishness,malice, gossip and anything that is not associated with love.

I hear the spirit remind me when I’m about to say things that are not in keeping with a Christian, this feels hugely different to the past, yet I’m stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt.

Can you help me understand please.

God Bless you all
David

 

[tturt]

Some things I've learned about this.

The John 3:16 you've posted declares "whosoever"- you are whosoever and now you believe in Him.
Before we were "...dead in trespasses and sins;" "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Eph 2:2, 13). We need to realize who we are in Him including accept His forgiveness.

Eph 1 & 2 is abundant in detail and includes:
Now we can have His grace and peace "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
Only because of Him "...we should be holy and without blame before him in love:""
We are "...blessed ...with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
We are redeemed and forgiven and sealed "...redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" and "...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Also, Matt 26:28, II Chron 7:14, Col 1:13-14, I John 1:9).

Could keep posting Eph 1 & 2 - there's a lot more there. When the Holy Spirit is guiding us to repent, we do so (I John 2:1, Rev 2 & 3) and move on. Based on II Cor 10:5, when the guilt thoughts come, immediately think on Scripture such as these from Eph 1 - 2. Also, we can pray Eph 3:14-21.

 

[timf]

Shame and guilt have a useful purpose. They can bring us to repentance, help us to seek restoration of fellowship, and motivate us to make corrections. However, after everything useful has been extracted, holding on to them for a sort of self-punishment can be unhealthy.

They also serve to keep us from pride. As someone who is 73 and has accumulated a lot of shame and guilt over the years, I can say that if you hold on to truth, a lifetime of sins, wrongs, and failure to do right will help keep pride at bay. They also make one grateful for the love Christ has shown us by forgiving our sins. They also help us feel compassion for others who have similarly stumbled along the way.

 

[tturt]

True. Assumed the thread is about overwhelming guilt and shame. Can be difficult to see ourselves as His. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:16).

 

[ozso]

Hi all

I have recently asked for forgiveness and repented. I have changed a lot in my life and removed all things pertaining to sin, physically and emotionally, however because I know I hurt Jesus so much during my prior years, I carry a huge sense of guilt because this must have upset God and how terribly disappointed he was in me.

I pray daily, I fall to sleep with God and wake up with God, but I still find myself in this perpetual state of saying sorry in my prayer.

Because my change to a new Christian life is so meaningful, I am doing my best to educate myself, but this also leads to comfort and fear in equal measure……anxiety often leads me more to fear that I am not forgiven and my destination is set……….I believe with all my heart in the Holy Trinity but having had years of doing what I wanted without considering God, I’m struggling with the change.

I feel ashamed that I found God as a young child, my parents were not believers but Christ came to me and I knew the truth. How utterly shameful to then reject him, even though at various times of trial I went back to him. This time it’s different, I feel like a new person, I want to give love, kindness, compassion, faithfulnes, forgiveness. I ask the spirit to remove, anger, resentment, bitterness, selfishness,malice, gossip and anything that is not associated with love.

I hear the spirit remind me when I’m about to say things that are not in keeping with a Christian, this feels hugely different to the past, yet I’m stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt.

Can you help me understand please.

God Bless you all
David

A change like that is difficult because we see our sin in a much different light and what we see under that spotlight horrifies us. How could I have thought, said, done such awful things? I have learned as time goes on and such things stay in the past and aren't repeated, you start feeling more healed than guilty.

I personally am glad for the painful guilt I had for a time because of it being something I never want to go back to, helps with my resolve to never go back to any of it.

And keep in mind with God's forgiveness that Paul hunted down Christians and stood by in approval while they were being stoned to death. And then there was David who first committed adultery, and then committed murder to cover it up. God forgive both of them.

 

[Beslowtoanger]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me. This has given me a better understanding.

I know this may sound odd but the signs of the spirit working in me is that I get emotional when I talk to other people about how I want to start the process of helping other people, caring for others. Don’t get me wrong, I did before but now it’s like I’m overcome with love when I say it.

I agree that shame and guilt can realign us with the truth and that has certainly happened to me, it’s just I’m so full of guilt, I’m beating myself up a bit. I will pray and keep praying but concentrate more on thanks than requests or prayer for others in need. Maybe the test of faith is to have the faith that I am forgiven?

Praise God you have all contributed, I thank you all with a loving heart

God Bless you
David

 

[ozso]

Luke 15:11-31 is helpful reading. In it we see how anxious the father is to forgive. What tries to spoil that is our own selves. In a way I think we're like the second son in the parable condemning ourselves.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15

 

[ozso]

Shame and guilt have a useful purpose. They can bring us to repentance, help us to seek restoration of fellowship, and motivate us to make corrections. However, after everything useful has been extracted, holding on to them for a sort of self-punishment can be unhealthy.

They also serve to keep us from pride. As someone who is 73 and has accumulated a lot of shame and guilt over the years, I can say that if you hold on to truth, a lifetime of sins, wrongs, and failure to do right will help keep pride at bay. They also make one grateful for the love Christ has shown us by forgiving our sins. They also help us feel compassion for others who have similarly stumbled along the way.

Guilt and shame is a two edged sword.

 

[anetazo]

Acts chapter 9 . Jesus forgave Paul, who persecuted the church, putting Christian people in jails. Jesus used Paul as vessel, as minister.
All sins are forgivable by Repentance. Jesus will forgive sins.
Don't allow guilt trip. Forgive yourself and know Jesus forgave you. God doesn't want to hear about it again.
Move on. Study the bible and focus on planting seeds for God.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Hi all

I have recently asked for forgiveness and repented. I have changed a lot in my life and removed all things pertaining to sin, physically and emotionally, however because I know I hurt Jesus so much during my prior years, I carry a huge sense of guilt because this must have upset God and how terribly disappointed he was in me.

I pray daily, I fall to sleep with God and wake up with God, but I still find myself in this perpetual state of saying sorry in my prayer.

Because my change to a new Christian life is so meaningful, I am doing my best to educate myself, but this also leads to comfort and fear in equal measure……anxiety often leads me more to fear that I am not forgiven and my destination is set……….I believe with all my heart in the Holy Trinity but having had years of doing what I wanted without considering God, I’m struggling with the change.

I feel ashamed that I found God as a young child, my parents were not believers but Christ came to me and I knew the truth. How utterly shameful to then reject him, even though at various times of trial I went back to him. This time it’s different, I feel like a new person, I want to give love, kindness, compassion, faithfulnes, forgiveness. I ask the spirit to remove, anger, resentment, bitterness, selfishness,malice, gossip and anything that is not associated with love.

I hear the spirit remind me when I’m about to say things that are not in keeping with a Christian, this feels hugely different to the past, yet I’m stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt.

Can you help me understand please.

God Bless you all
David

Trust the promises of scripture:

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

Sometimes it’s harder for us to forgive ourselves, more than it is for God to. Don’t let that guilt get to you as that is not coming from God. Don’t focus on the past, focus on the present and how you can be a servant to the Lord and do His good will today.

It’s possible you have some uncovered sin that has yet to be revealed to you, thats what the law is for 1 John 3:4 Romans 7:7 to reveal sin as it is like a mirror so we can see our sins and not cover them, but go to Christ to confess so we can prosper Proverbs 28:13.

I try to ask God regularly to reveal any uncovered sin and show me my sins and ask for His help in gaining victory of them.

God bless!

 

[Beslowtoanger]

Trust the promises of scripture:

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

Sometimes it’s harder for us to forgive ourselves, more than it is for God to. Don’t let that guilt get to you as that is not coming from God. Don’t focus on the past, focus on the present and how you can be a servant to the Lord and do His good will today.

It’s possible you have some uncovered sin that has yet to be revealed to you, thats what the law is for 1 John 3:4 Romans 7:7 to reveal sin as it is like a mirror so we can see our sins and not cover them, but go to Christ to confess so we can prosper Proverbs 28:13.

I try to ask God regularly to reveal any uncovered sin and show me my sins and ask for His help in gaining victory of them.

God bless!

God Bless you, that is very helpful.

I have confessed all, I’ve not covered anything up because I know that God knows anyway…Ive cried openly before God and repented. As has been said, receiving the spirit is like becoming a new creature. Only now do I realise the daily battle with sin/Satan so clearly.

My guilt is subsiding and like you say, I’m now more aligned with now and how I can grow spiritually through the word and teachings of Jesus.

Ive become very, very sensitive to any form of suffering (even in films) If I receive intrusive thoughts or desires, I ask Jesus to remove them…..before my re-birth, there is no doubt I would have followed those desires to please me and not God.

So my guilt is being replaced with the desire to learn….I see this as a clear sign of my spiritual journey and generous gift given by God.

I thank you for bringing your love and kindness to my question.

God Bless you friend

❤️

 

[SabbathBlessings]

God Bless you, that is very helpful.

I have confessed all, I’ve not covered anything up because I know that God knows anyway…Ive cried openly before God and repented. As has been said, receiving the spirit is like becoming a new creature. Only now do I realise the daily battle with sin/Satan so clearly.

My guilt is subsiding and like you say, I’m now more aligned with now and how I can grow spiritually through the word and teachings of Jesus.

Ive become very, very sensitive to any form of suffering (even in films) If I receive intrusive thoughts or desires, I ask Jesus to remove them…..before my re-birth, there is no doubt I would have followed those desires to please me and not God.

So my guilt is being replaced with the desire to learn….I see this as a clear sign of my spiritual journey and generous gift given by God.

I thank you for bringing your love and kindness to my question.

God Bless you friend

❤️

I have pretty much stopped watching almost all secular TV, even PG shows as secular TV is harmful to the Christian mind and the meta-messages it sends even in PG shows and how often they use God’s name in vain is sickening.

Keep praying, God reveals when we have an open heart willing to do whatever He asks and know He will never lead us away from His Word Psa 119:1-5 Isa 8:20 which is why its so important to study His Word, which reveals His will.

God bless!

 

[Beslowtoanger]

I have pretty much stopped watching almost all secular TV, even PG shows as secular TV is harmful to the Christian mind and the meta-messages it sends even in PG shows and how often they use God’s name in vain is sickening.

Keep praying, God reveals when we have an open heart willing to do whatever He asks and know He will never lead us away from His Word Psa 119:1-5 Isa 8:20 which is why its so important to study His Word, which reveals His will.

God bless!

I’ve deleted all social media, those places are poison and I no longer watch or listen to the daily news, that is also full of sensationalising misery and suffering.

Once again, this is a sign for me that the Holy Spirit is at work. If you repent and remove what pains God and ultimately me, then the daily battles are easier.

God bless

David

 

[Beslowtoanger]

I went to Church this morning for the first time.

It was Holy Communion and a beautiful uplifting service. The priest gave an example how through his life he found it hard to forgive, he was thin skinned, easily upset and still gets angry. This was reassuring for me as I’ve been very self critical, so to hear the failings of a priest was actually providing me with comfort. The echos of we fail, before the glory of God, because we cannot be as perfect as he is, has certainly grounded me.

So it was another clear, spiritual message that the past is forgiven, now I MUST go forward in the name of Jesus with so much love, care, kindness and gratitude.

The sense of belonging was also very strong, the kindness and interest of me, a new member, of what is, a small congregation, was beautiful.

Im currently dancing around in my spirit for the joys of God. I have a day off work tomorrow and I plan to go to the lakes with my Bible to continue to read.

(in days past I wasted time on social media, self serving, laziness……..emptiness) Now I seek time with God.

Thank you Lord

David

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Repost from a previous thread with the same question.

"This kind of thing is a struggle for many, including me. We do things that are sinful, even painfully sinful. We return to God, and He says we are forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. He says He even forgets our sins, which means if we are to believe Him, He has no idea what we are talking about when we approach Him about those sins.

Heb_8:
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Isaiah 43:
25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

He does not want to remember them. It is not so easy for us. It is not that I am afraid those sins are still present between us. It is because I am ashamed of my own actions. I am even more ashamed that I have let my Friend Jesus down by behaving in a way unbecoming a child of God. After all He gave for me, His very life... and the suffering He endured. I am so sorry, Lord.
I want to be His friend. He said we are His friends if we do His commandments.

John 15:13-14 KJV
13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

So that is very real to me.
I heard a sermon the other day along these lines. God wants us to release these regrets and shame.
They are in the way of our fellowshipping with Him. It may seem admirable that we are sorrowful for our sins, but God's will and purpose eclipse the sorrow and shame. It pleased God to bruise Him.

Isaiah 53:10 KJV
10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou
shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

It is useless to endure this regret and shame, especially when He has already paid for it for the purpose of our having fellowship with Him. So, our holding on to the regret only serves to short-circuit His cause. Jesus paid with His body and blood to bring you into fellowship with the Father, and here we are, not doing it due to our own grief.

 

[All Becomes New]

Shame and guilt have a useful purpose. They can bring us to repentance, help us to seek restoration of fellowship, and motivate us to make corrections. However, after everything useful has been extracted, holding on to them for a sort of self-punishment can be unhealthy.

They also serve to keep us from pride. As someone who is 73 and has accumulated a lot of shame and guilt over the years, I can say that if you hold on to truth, a lifetime of sins, wrongs, and failure to do right will help keep pride at bay. They also make one grateful for the love Christ has shown us by forgiving our sins. They also help us feel compassion for others who have similarly stumbled along the way.

This is a great answer.

I myself struggle with guilt and shame and my faith was "confirmed" about 5 years ago. I've been on fire for Jesus ever since, but it does make me acutely aware of my sin both past and present. The best way I have learned to overcome this is, ironically, by sinning and knowing that it is literally impossible for me to "do enough" or "kill sin enough" to earn God's affection for me. He loves me if I sin or not but sinning hurts me, not Him.

 

[com7fy8]

I hear the spirit remind me when I’m about to say things that are not in keeping with a Christian, this feels hugely different to the past, yet I’m stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt.

So, it is good how now you know those things are wrong. And it is excellent how the Holy Spirit keeps you aware of what you are saying. And I note your user name, "Beslowtoanger". Yes, we have James 1:19-20 in which he says >

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20)

Things can come back. And each time we can do better with it. Forgive better, submit to God better.

Beware, how bad memories can indeed be part of Satan's trying to keep your attention away from God. Instead, we need to be attentive and submissive to God . . . in His own peace ruling us >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

But it can be you need to mature more and grow stronger in Jesus, so you can more readily refuse to let bad things get the better of you and bully you . . . and isolate you. Do not allow yourself to get isolated in fearing and shame about things, getting concerned about yourself in a way which is not helping and blessing you.

But in case you can still give in to such stuff . . . this could mean there are others things you might be able to get into. So, watch out for other stuff, too . . . such as arguing and complaining >

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" > in Philippians 2:13-16.

And, by the way . . . notice here how God gives us such a strong criticism of arguing and complaining; yet, with His strong criticism comes He very strong encouragement of all which is so better that we can have with Him, instead.

So, when it is God who is confronting you, possibly you also will find Him giving you great encouragement for what is so better.

 

[Beslowtoanger]

Inspiring and comforting all in one post, I thank God for bringing me here to be with brothers and sisters who bring wisdom and quotes that I am new to. God bless you and everyone else who has contributed.

Over the past week or so I’ve found sudden peace, I pray every day, I read the Bible everyday (although I’ve skipped today because I’m starting from scratch when my new leather bound Bible arrives and here I will engage in study rather than just reading) I walk with Jesus and the spirit everyday. The peace is suddenly beautiful, I know it’s from the Holy Spirit, which fills me full of emotion, not of sadness for my past but joy for the new me, the tangible nailing of my flesh to the tree is so obvious that I’m comforted for the affirmation of God is with me.

Because I have the spirit and it feels very strong in me, I am very firm to ask Satan to leave if my mind wanders or fills with intrusive thoughts. I say….SATAN “ leave me, I am with Jesus Christ, the son of God who destroyed you on the cross” and it’s gone!? I am a simple human being so I don’t think I have the power to do this, it’s my voice but are they my words or is this the spirit. The quiet whispers of the Spirit every morning, guiding me, telling me what I must and must not do is audible, it’s in my head and in my ears, on my lips….it’s not just myself, all of it full of peace, pointers to the Bible, plans to help others……is this a gift?

Anyway, I am at peace, my shame has gone because I know I’ve not left any stone unturned in my confession, my repentance and because all my prior actions, words, attitude and behaviour is gone, then it’s absolute proof the Holy Spirit has filled me…..Thank you my Lord I owe you everything.

So now is all about living in love, understanding scripture, sowing the seeds of the truth with the world…….I am changed.

God Bless you all

David

 

[com7fy8]

Peace is not just a feeling. It is God in His harmony sharing with us . . . as His family.

I have offered a video on this. You might be able to find it by searching YouTube with "William Obey God in His peace". It is the one with orange on the computer screen with the person's face to the right. It is a little more than 13 minutes.