How do we handle the guilt associated with past failures or our sins? We know enough to ask God to forgive us, but many of us continue to carry the burden of that guilt. It drains us physically and emotionallly. We greet others with a ‘false-face’ smile, proclaiming that everything is fine. All the while, we’re being torn up inside by our memory of what we did.

Let me offer a personal observation. If we call ourselves Christians, we automatically have an accuser, who tries to point out all our failures – past or present – to God. The accuser is relentless, day and night, in his attempts to steal any thing we have (including our minds), in his attempts to kill, if not physically, certainly spiritually, and in his attempts to destroy our lives, both physically and spiritually. The MEMORY we have of what we did is the playground for this diabolical accuser. What do we do? How do we overcome these unseen but very real accusations?

There’s a hymn that has helped me in this dilemma: “Look upon Jesus … look full in His wonderful face …” You see, Jesus died on a cross for sins He did not commit, so that we might be free from the guilt of our sins, sufferings, and shames. As I continue to look on Him, realizing all He willingly suffered, and allow the cleansing flow of His shed blood to wash over me, I suddenly find myself in a different place … a place of accepted forgiveness .. not in anything I’ve done, but ALL of what He has done, not just for me, but for ‘whosoever’ would believe on Him and receive Him – BY FAITH – accepting what He accomplished, physically, spiritually, and emotionally! It’s then that I can agree with the First Letter of John, chapter 1, verse 9 : “He is faithful and just to forgive (me) of (my) sins AND cleanse (me) from ALL unrighteousness.” I cling to this promise and to Him Who made it a reality! I am forgiven by Jesus before God. So .. accuser, SHUT UP in Jesus’ Name. Amen.