How to Say Good-bye to Guilt

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1

Her tears stream down her cheeks and splash onto her glasses. My mommy heart breaks as I watch her. My mind begins to reel.

Am I too hard? Am I too soft? What if I am stunting her academic growth? Why didn’t I notice she needed glasses? What if I am really messing up my kids? I can’t even take care of my kids, how on earth can I minister to women? Will I ever be enough?

If I am not careful this tape plays over and over in my head – day in and day out. It questions all my decisions, my parenting skills, even my God-given talents. I begin to harbor guilt that I am not more organized, a better friend, sibling, spouse, mother. I am just not good enough or enough to do all that I want to do…

Ah, do you see it? The guilt comes from unmet expectations – not God’s expectations, not my children’s, my husband’s, or my friends’. Nope the guilt comes from my personal unmet expectations.

So how do I train my mind to get rid of guilt?

• First pray that God will reveal the areas you have unrealistic expectations of yourself.
• Second begin searching the areas you feel guilt about. See if in those areas of your life you are expecting too much from yourself.
• Third throw away the guilt tape by setting new reasonable expectations.
• Finally, when the guilt tape begins playing fight back with God’s truth. Remind your guilt tape that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and that He has removed your sins as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103)

What do you do to help you say goodbye to guilt? Please post a comment and let me know.

 
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