Dealing with guilt and shame

,

Getting over the guilt and memories of past sin is never easy...
especially if the sinning has been going on for a long time or is a
severe or a deeply ingrained habit; not because God doesn't forgive
instantly when we confess, but that WE sometimes have trouble

forgiving ourselves.
This is kind of a "false guilt" which satan likes to use to keep the
forgiven one from being an effective witness, and experiencing the joy
of restoration.

Here are a few tips of how to overcome guilt...

1) We start with claiming 1 John 1:9 as a promise which God makes to us:

1 John 1:9 (KJV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "

To claim a promise, you read it somewhere in God's word, then you pray
to God and say "Lord you have promised that if i confess my sins to you,
you will forgive me and cleanse me. I choose to  believe that you will keep
Your Word in this promise, and I accept your forgiveness and your
cleansing of my soul...I will trust you to keep your word, because of
Jesus' Death on the Cross....Amen.

We confess, God keeps His promise, God forgives, God cleanses. The
cleansing is an on-going process. It occurs as we read the Bible and
apply the truths to ourselves..then the Holy Spirit gives us the power
to overcome the temptation the next time.
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2) Next, consider this verse:

Isa 1:16-20 (KJV)

Wash you, make you clean;

 put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;

cease to do evil; {17} Learn to do well;

seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,

judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

 {18} Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

{19} If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

{20} But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword:

for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Note the words in vs 16-17..."cease to do evil, learn to do well"'
I heard a preacher say once that when you quit doing some sin
in your life, in order to prevent it from re-occurring, you should

replace it with a good christian trait or some good christian

activity or service.

This is because there is like a "hole in your soul" (figuratively
speaking) that needs filling because there once was a habit there. You
spent time doing this sin, invested money and effort in it, maybe, and
got some enjoyment from it. Now the activity of the sin is gone, but there is a time, activity and satisfaction void there that needs to be filled.

So, for example, if the Lord has delivered you from listening to rock
music, listen to some christian or classical music instead. You have a
"music need", maybe even a musical gift. Give that gift to the Lord for
His glory and service. Dont give up if it doesnt seem to satisfy right
away. Old habits die hard...your brain needs to be reprogrammed.
Volunteer to sing at a nursing home or a childrens ward in a hospital.
Learn how to play an instrument.. ..

The same principle works for more serious sins..it may be referred

to as..

The Principle of Replacement

So for example if you have been released from getting high on drugs or
alcohol, you need to identify all the "benefits" you were receiving from
getting high...escape from reality, guilt, anger, boredom, whatever...
physical benefits, like the rush from a high, fogetfulness, anesthesia,
unconsciousness. Of course, the medical problems of addiction are very
real too, but the "mental addiction" is something that needs to be

replaced with something positive...

1) Replace escape from this world's sick reality with the heavenly
reality of Biblical promises and study of future Glory in the presence
of God. Replace the "high" of the drugs with the joy and peace which
come from prolonged praising of the Lord in prayer and worship.

2) Replace guilt with the realization of God's forgiveness  for your
past, and learn to forgive yourself..we have no right to remember what
God has forgotten.

3) Deal with anger and rage. Confess these as sins, then forgive those who have done you wrong. And instead, volunteer to help out at a nursing home or hospital childrens ward..sharing Christ's love instead of stewing in
depression and emptiness. or start a home bible study and prayer group
with a few of your like-minded christian friends.

4)  Practice praying and praising the Lord in prayer, and in song, and
share your faith and experience of release with those who may be trapped in the same sins you once were, and need to be rescued. This is actually expressed in the following verse:

2 Cor 1:3-5 (KJV) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; {4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. {5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

The final thing one should do is to learn how to "pray a psalm". This
means getting alone with God, in a quiet place, and concentrating on
each and every phrase of the psalm, and praying it back to God as if it
were your own words. At certain times of guilt or persecution, we cannot

think of what to pray. This is why God gives us these Psalms, so that we can pour our heart out to God and be guided in our prayer by God's wisdom.

The following Psalm is most precious, and is one of great help in overcoming and confessing the sources of guilt and shame...

Psa 51:1-17 (KJV)

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David,

 when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies

blot out my transgressions.

 {2} Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

{3} For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

{4} Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:

 that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,

and be clear when thou judgest.

{5} Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

{6} Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:

and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 {7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,

 and I shall be whiter than snow.

{8} Make me to hear joy and gladness;

that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 {9} Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

 {11} Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit from me.

{12} Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me with thy free spirit.

{13} Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

{14} Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:

 and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

{15} O Lord, open thou my lips;

and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

 {16} For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:

thou delightest not in burnt offering.

{17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.