Is Your Guilt Trip From God?

1/23/2017

Can you tell the difference between guilt and conviction?

I was struggling. We had been searching for a home for over a year, and nothing was working. I knew God would provide for us, but man, it was hard.

The thing I was really struggling with was myself. My doubts. My impatience. One day I called my best friend and confessed that I had spiraled to the point of wondering if maybe I had done something wrong.

That's when my friend asked me a question that would change the way I evaluate my emotions for the rest of my life...

"Are you feeling convicted, or are you
feeling guilty?" she asked.

I sat there for a moment, feeling like she had dumped a bucket of cold water on my head, because I had never really thought about it before. But she was right: There is a HUGE difference between guilt and conviction.

Conviction:

Conviction is what God uses, through the Holy Spirit, to lead us to repentance:

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." -John 16:7-8

Conviction leads to Repentance which leads to Victory. Conviction helps you grow.

When the Spirit convicts you, He will help you make the change God wants for your life. Conviction leads to Repentance which leads to Victory.

Guilt:

Guilt is a weapon the Enemy uses to distract and disable us. Guilt is for those who have been found guilty. If the Son has made you righteous through faith, then you cannot be found guilty! You may be in need of correction and change, yes! But not guilty.

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." - John 8:36

When you are on a guilt-trip, you are distracted from the many good things the Lord has for you (and has for you to be doing).

Whenever my emotions start to drag me down, I stop and ask myself which is it? Guilt or Conviction?
I ask God if He's showing me something He wants me to change in me, or if I'm just guilt-tripping. When it's Him, He helps me with what He asks of me.

When it's not Him, just recognizing the weapon being used against me often puts me in a position to fight against it. After all, we are more than conquerors!

What About You?

Does Guilt ever stop you in your tracks? Does it ever become your focus? Do you think it has any place in the life of a believer?

What Scriptures will you arm yourself with, the next time a Guilt-Trip comes knocking on your heart's door?

This post is an excerpt from Finding Quiet Time.

Copyright 2017 by Anna Travis. All rights reserved.
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Alicia Downey

2/14/2017 11:01:58 am

Wow, Anna! Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt and meaningful blog. Glad to be your sister in Christ. It didn't hit me until reading this post that I often feel guilty a lot of the time and undeserving on the inside. I'm fearful much of the time in social situations and I think that stems from feeling guilty and unworthy. We are daughters of the King!

It was powerful to recognize that this emotion isn't from God, and he doesn't want me to feel that way. God wants us to be victorious and representatives of him. I am ready to take those thoughts captive and move forward in all truth and power.

Anna Travis link

2/14/2017 12:42:01 pm

It's crazy how those things can sneak into our thought life and become "normal," isn't it? No wonder we are told to take thoughts captive, our emotions are such tricky things!

Have a great day Alicia!

http://www.magicreviews.org link

7/6/2018 01:54:13 am

Before anything else I want to thank you for this very inspirational article. We should always be reminded that God will always be there to help us with our needs. All we need to do is to trust Him wholeheartedly. The problem with us people is we do not know how to give in to our God. We think that we still need to keep a little space for ourselves. I don't think it work that way.

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