by Dona Hake
There is so much torment in feeling guilty. It kind of feels like a prison because of how you feel inside. Guilt can bring memories and thoughts of the wrong you may have done and this guilt seems to have a voice. It is capable of haunting and reminding you of what you have been convinced is irreparable. As believers we do not have to live with guilt any more for we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we can partake of His wonderful forgiveness. There is not one thing that our Lord is unable to repair and restore. Nothing can separate us from His love and forgiveness!
Let us treasure within us how wonderful it is that the Lord will forgive us when we mess up for He has promised to always cleanse our hearts when we humble ourselves and seek forgiveness and restoration. Oh the blessing of humbling ourselves to Him admitting our wrongs and shortcomings for He is desires to bring us back to that place of feeling clean again. Our Lord is all about restoration! What a glorious gift we have to partake of as believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us look at David in the Psalms. His plea to God was for restoration of his heart in a time in which he majorly messed up, and his heart was heavy with guilt and anguish.
Psalm 51:7, 8, 10
“Remove my sin and make me pure.”
Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
God, create a pure heart in me,
and make my spirit strong again.”
Today let us treasure the power of forgiveness from the One who is able to cleanse. I love how verse eight says “Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.” This is what restoration is about. When we experience freedom from guilt we are able to experience the joy and happiness that was robbed by our sin and guilt. Only God is able to create within us a pure heart, pick us back up, and cause us to continue on in His will. Thank God for the power of forgiveness! We are cleansed by the power of His love and blood!