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By Ruth Koch Like so many contemporary Americans, I'm a great candidate for talk-show style religion: "Learn to forgive yourself." Some nights I lie awake while recurring thoughts about the sins of today, yesterday and years gone by are familiar companions. I replay my thoughtless words and uncaring deeds. I identify poor choices and the mistakes I deeply regret. I vividly remember acts of selfishness and self-service, and I cringe at broken promises and unchecked resentments. But as I toss and turn in bed, self-talking, "You did the best you could!" or "Look, Ruth, it's been years and years, so just get over it!" forgiving myself doesn't seem to work for very long. The stop-beating-yourself-up school of mind-over-guilt doesn't cut it, and the guilt always comes back. So what's a gal to do with guilt and anxiety that seem rather appropriate in the face of real sins? Here are some good-news lessons worthy of God's Night School: Identify who is accusing you. The Accuser who brings the same accusations against you again and again isn't God. The good news is that God has forgiven your sin and charged that sin to His Son's account. Because God held your sin against Jesus, He no longer holds your sin against you. God has "put your sin behind his back" (Isaiah 38:17). Satan is not a dummy, but he is defeated. Satan's bedside work is a last-ditch, desperate attempt to lure the faithful from the heart of God. So the only appropriate Holy Spirit-generated response to Satan is, "That sin is forgiven. Take your accusations to Jesus!" "Forgive Yourself" isn't scriptural. God has already forgiven your sins, so you don't have to forgive yourself. The spotlight is on God's forgiveness. We don't add anything to that complete forgiveness in Christ Jesus: not circumcision, not burnt offerings, not the blood of goats or lambs—and not forgiving yourself, either. God's promise of forgiveness was won the day Christ died on the cross and sealed for you on the day you were baptized. Guilt can be a gift. Most Americans think guilt is bad and should be eliminated as quickly as possible. But Christians can receive the gift that guilt bestows: Real guilt urges us into the arms of our Savior. That is not true, however, of false guilt—neurotic and often exaggerated guilt. As women, we may feel guilty about not making cookies from scratch or not having the perfectly clean home or not living up to our own perfectionist standards for making everyone in our lives happy. In most instances, false guilt distracts us from real sin and real guilt. Use God's Word and the Ten Commandments to sort false guilt from real guilt so you can embrace His forgiveness. Peace will guard your heart and mind. Everyone is longing for peace, a peace that allows you to sleep through the night and withstand Satan's tricks and accusations. So here's more good news: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7). Sleep in peace tonight, dear sister in Christ. Your sins are forgiven.
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