Self-justification might temporarily hide guilt and shame behind self-deception, but it can’t pull them out by the roots. The forgiveness that matters most is the forgiveness that removes guilt and shame. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” His forgiveness truly cleanses a human heart.

Guilt and shame can cause life on earth to feel like hell. To reject Christ’s forgiveness is to embrace guilt and shame.

Guilt and shame will keep you from being close to Jesus. A heart-to-heart relationship with the living Jesus will keep you from guilt and shame. Assurance of salvation without assurance of forgiveness is deceptive. 1 John 1:9.

The pursuit of happiness? The happiest times in life are the moments of self-forgetting, not the moments of self-focus.

The more a society focuses on personal desire satisfaction the less stable it becomes. Jesus is more powerful than your feelings and desires. Obey Him, not them. To me, most church services seem to be set up to avoid ongoing, heart-stirring intimacy with the risen Jesus.

Who most needs God’s forgiveness? I was thinking about Paul calling himself “the chief of sinners” when a picture popped in my mind. All the people who had ever lived were racing to see who is the worst sinner in the history of the world. Suddenly the finish line appeared, and all mankind was there at the same moment. It was a photo finish. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.

Denial
Might work
For awhile
To quiet guilt
And silence shame
But only Christ’s forgiveness
Can erase the self-blame
Deep in your heart.

Unless we’re intensely aware
Of Christ’s ongoing mercy
We’ll want to avoid
Opening our heart
To His presence.

The more you let
Christ’s forgiveness
Rescue and cleanse you
From behaviors that cause
Guilt and shame
The more joy
Will dance in your heart.

Throughout the day
Every time I’m drawn away
From Christ’s presence,
I shower my soul
In His forgiveness
And He renews me
Right away!

When desire and deception
Are allowed to dance together
They lead to temptation
And to the mental justification
Of whatever we want to do,
Inviting guilt and shame
To rudely interrupt the dance
With their emotional devastation.

The law brings us
To the most important
Self-perception.
It makes us aware of
Our love for
Self-deception
And our never-ending need
For the ongoing reception
Of Christ’s rivers
Of living water
That give us revelation
Deep within our heart.

Mercy, mercy,
Marvelous mercy!
God opened my eyes
And let me see
Christ’s amazing love
And forgiveness for me!