Soul Searching

What memory feels too big to face? Are you willing to face it now?

  

  

Life Reflection

  1. We all have embedded dread, guilt, and shame in the soil of our lives—of course, all to different degrees depending on the things we’ve endured, the things we’ve done, and the sensitivity of our hearts. How does the enemy use guilt and shame against you? Of what does he constantly accuse you?
  2. Looking at your answer, knowing what you now know at this point of your faith journey, would you say that you need healing? Or forgiveness? Or both? Write down your thoughts.
  3. Hidden in our souls is guilt for things that weren’t our fault but that the devil has successfully blamed us for (until God exposes him for the liar he is). Our constant sense of not-enough-ness is often tied to those kinds of traumatic memories. Once we recognize that our condemner is actually the condemned one, we can receive the healing Jesus offers. Then we engage our faith and trust Him to also be our great Defender. Ask the Lord to bring to the surface any memory that He wants to heal. Wait for Him. Write down what He shows you.
  4. Also hidden in our souls is guilt for things we have done, sins we’ve committed but that Jesus has forgiven. There may be memories associated with those times that we’ve not fully sorted out with God, and because that’s so, our memories and our enemy continually accuse us. Thankfully, Jesus constantly intercedes for us. Why does the enemy get to keep accusing you? What about his accusation feels true to you? Read 1 John 1:9 and then read it again. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Ask the Lord for a fresh understanding of the finality of His forgiveness.
  5. When we willfully engage in sin and/or secretly indulge in ways that hold us captive, the enemy has the legal right to accuse us. He’s a legalist and will look for every opportunity to take us down. Write out a prayer. Ask God to make you lose your taste for that which weakens you. Humbly repent, and in His strength, rise up and do an about-face. Turn the other way. Start afresh. Picture yourself on the healing path and trust God to keep you there.