We carefully thought out our reply to what someone requested of us. We decided that, in this instance, the best answer was no.
Even if no is absolutely right, guilt will make an appearance.
It has an interesting genesis. When Adam and Eve fell for the guile of the enemy in the Garden of Eden, they moved humanity into the arena of guilt. We are born "guilty" of the sin nature that we cannot escape in and of ourselves.
So Jesus came. He absolves us of this guilt when we simply accept what He did for us. He traded His life for our guilt. Many a criminal facing a judge would love someone to be his or her ransom.
All of us are born facing the Judge, free to accept an already paid ransom. Stunning.
When we allow humility and wisdom to lead us into accepting the ransom Jesus paid, we are free of guilt. Period. Every time we mess up, which will be often, we can ask forgiveness and be guilt-free once again.
Thus for believers, guilt has lost its power and its place. But the enemy of God remembers and calls us back into guilty every chance he gets.
One of his most effective whispers to us laces guilt into our very thoughts. We assume it is from our own conclusive thinking, and that is when our best answer--no--moves onto shaky ground and we start second-guessing ourselves. We may even be driven to an unwise yes.
One of the hardest lessons to teach ourselves is to believe that guilt is outside of us. It is sent to employ confusion and derail wisdom. The good news? There is an antidote.
Remember that you and God are working together as parents of you, creating healthy momentum (Day 4). We can ask God to teach us how to say no to guilt, to stand on our ground of freedom so magnificently earned by Jesus on the cross.Our lesson learned from God--how to say no to guilt--is the best no of all.
Photo: keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
