Satan will tempt you into sin, then turn and point a finger at you, yelling, "Sinner! Sinner!" He’s like the rotten cousin who came to your house when you were a kid, tempted you into playing with his matches, and, when you were caught with the matches in your hands, told your mother that the matches were yours and said it was your idea.
That’s what guilt and shame are—the lying, rotten cousin.
When you do something wrong, God will convict you, but He doesn’t reject or judge you for that sin. Jesus forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Your sins—past, present, and future—are covered by Jesus’ blood.
God shows us what we did wrong and loves us into wholeness. His kindness leads us to repentance. See Romans 2:4. Conviction often sounds something like this:
"Dave, I saw what you did. That’s not who you are. You’re better than that. Come on, come up higher. Let’s work on that failing together. I’ll help you."
God convicts, but at the same time, He encourages and helps us.
Galatians 5:1 (New Living Translation) says, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free.”
Pray and declare this with me:
Father, I accept Your invitation to boldly approach Your throne of grace as a much-loved son or daughter. Sin has no hold on me. My faith in Jesus has set me free. I’m free from guilt and shame in every aspect of the law and legalism. I live in Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and grace. I will not live by feelings. I will not listen to voices of condemnation, including my own. I will not go back into captivity. I will live in Your love and acceptance. Jesus’ love for me is steadier than my heartbeat. It never changes. No matter what I do, it doesn’t change. I am free from condemnation, guilt, and shame forever. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.