False Guilt

Read:

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Think:

Did you grow up always having to “measure up”? Did you spend most of your life trying to please your parents, your coach, your boss, instead of God?

False guilt has nothing to do with repentance, nor is it related to what is true and accurate. It is usually the fear of disapproval, in disguise. It is taking moral responsibility for actions, events, and situations that were not our fault. People driven by false guilt are always trying to measure up, always on the hamster wheel of life, always traveling a never-ending journey of uncertainty. There is no pleasing false guilt. There is always the next chore to fulfill, the next person to please. It is completely fear-based. Fear is often “False Evidence Appearing Real.”

False guilt consumes our thinking and creates spiritual blinders so that we don’t see our relationship with God clearly. Through false guilt, we lie to ourselves. We bear “false witness” against ourselves. We judge ourselves inaccurately and harshly. People who deal with false guilt have difficulty telling people “no.” It places heavy burdens on our backs, burdens we were never meant to carry. False guilt is a spiritual detour.

Act:

Don’t waste time today on false guilt! Authentic guilt leads us to act differently, not to feel unworthy. Stop beating yourself up when you miss the unrealistic bar you set for yourself. Speak life. Speak the promises of God. (Isaiah 41:10, James 4:8, Isaiah 54:10)

Pray:

Lord, thank You for Your grace. Help me to learn how to recognize and respond to Your voice of conviction instead of Satan’s voice of condemnation. Thank You for this reminder of Your love! Amen.