Getting Off the Guilt Wheel

After traveling for 2 weeks in Africa, I woke up this morning and immediately started feeling guilty about not getting out of bed quickly enough to tackle the day. As I began my day, I started feeling guilty about not exercising, then overeating the night before, then I started feeling guilty because I had not yet cleaned the house; I didn't spend time with my sister last night, and on and on and on it went. Suddenly, I found myself feeling guilty about feeling guilty! According to the dictionary guilt is "the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime." The truth is not being as productive, social, or healthy as I strive to be, is not a specified or implied offense. So, why all the guilt?

Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God."

Satan accuses us day and night. Day and night people! He accuses us incessantly He wants to keep us on the guilt wheel so that we are unable to actually be productive for God's kingdom. If I am consistently beating myself up for the things I "should" have done according to the world's view (be heathly, exercise, keep a clean house, etc.), how will I find the time or the engergy to do the things I really should be motivated to do? What are the real shoulds?

*Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and body.
*Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life
*Help those who are hurting around me
*Share the truth of God's love with everyone who doesn't yet know Him

I am a very task oriented person so this guilt thing is a double wammy for me. If I can't check it of the list, guess what? I feel guilty! It's time for all of us to get off the guilt wheel. Recently, I read "Undaunted" by Christine Caine. In reflecting on the story of the good samaritan, God told her this, "Christine, the only difference between the Samaritan and the religious people was that hte Samaritan actually crossed the street. The Samaritan was willing to have his plans interrupted so that he could assist the man. The Samaritan stooped down to lift up the broken one. Stopping and stooping are different. Compassion is only emotion-until you cross the street. Compassion means action. You go to them."

When I read these words, I was reminded that no task is righteous. No task left undone should bring feelings of guilt. The only thing I should feel guilty about is not laying down my life for the lost. Lord, please help me to focus on what really matters and help me to rebuke the enemy when he whispers inadequacy and doubt and guilt to my soul. May I remember to instead be the light in the darkness. That is all you have called me to do.