Condemnation keeps you from being happy and feeling worthy. You deserve a happy, guilt free life!
I realised a while back that I made a habit of feeling guilty and apologising about everything. This behavior was a result of events in my past. Many times we do the wrong thing simply because we are uneducated about the situation or we are emotional. Even if it was a result of something that you did intentionally, belittling yourself about the past does not fix anything.
Living with guilt leads to anxiety, stress and depression.
Whether it is a situation in your past or your present, it does not define who you are. It does not make of you less valuable or unworthy of living a great life.
Here are some practical steps to achieve living a guilt free life.
Identify the root.
Somewhere in your life you decided that you need to feel guilty. Find a quiet place where you can think and where you can be honest with yourself. Rewind back to that first thought of guilt and condemnation.
Be honest with yourself.
Identify whether you could have done something to change the situation, but be realistic.
Repent.
If you did wrong to someone else, repent before God and forgive yourself. If possible, go, and ask forgiveness to those you have done wrong to. You will never be free from the situation if you don’t do what still can be done.
“And they went out and preached that the people should repent.” – Mark 6:12
Let go and let God.
If you could not have done anything to change the situation, accept it and release yourself. You are your biggest enemy. You must decide to let it go, and let God. You must decide to give yourself a chance to be happy.
Know who you are.
You are defined by your Creator, not by your past. Know your identity in Christ. Also know that, no matter what you do, nothing changes who you are to Him or how much He loves you.
“For I know the thought I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
“Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and on scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” – Luke 10.19
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:16