Category: Guilt

Inner peace

Ruth Kirk

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace] (James 1:3; AMP).

Introduction
Inner peace in the face of life’s many trials and sorrows is so precious, yet so difficult to reach and maintain. Fostering it requires deep devotion to God, to our spiritual development, and to loving others.

Inner peace
Inner peace does not rely on everything going well, or on reaching a point where our lives are calm and sorted. Rather, it means:

  • Having rock-solid faith in God, no matter what happens.
  • Constantly sharing everything with God in prayer, with total honesty.
  • Continuing to trust in God, even when we have lost all hope.
  • Clinging to God, even when we feel completely abandoned, as Jesus did on the cross.
  • Knowing that God will bring good out of all that happens to us, no matter how desperate our situation is.

Developing inner peace
Fortunately, inner peace does not rely solely on our own efforts. Rather, it is a gift from God:

  • I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

However, it does rely on us having a loving relationship, and a working partnership, with God.

Biblical guidance
Let’s see what guidance the Bible offers about how to develop inner peace through our relationship with God:

  • If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] so that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative] (Jeremiah 15:19; AMP).
  • Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever] (Matthew 5:10; AMP).
  • Glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good (Romans 2:10; AMP).
  • The fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23; AMP).
  • We who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power (Hebrews 4:3; AMP).
  • Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace] (James 1:3; AMP).
  • We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

Conclusion
There can be no better conclusion to this short blog than the words of St. Paul:

  • I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfil His purpose – I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace] (Philippians 4:13; AMP).

References

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built (Luke 6:47-8; NLT).

Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always] (Colossians 3:15; AMP).

What is impossible for people is possible with God (Luke 18:27; NLT).

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge] (John 14:27; AMP).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

 

Spiritual growth

Ruth Kirk

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

God sends good times and bad times into our lives, in order to help us grow in faith.

Early in life, our understanding of God is usually quite limited. As we face and come through each test, our faith is often challenged, and sometimes lost entirely. This happens when we cannot square what we have experienced with our limited, or even mistaken, understanding of God.

Slowly and painfully, we learn to accept what has happened, and to come to terms with it. In response to this inner emotional, psychological and spiritual process, our faith may change, broaden and deepen. Lost faith can slowly be rebuilt, though often with very different ways of understanding God than those we had previously.

This healing process can happen repeatedly during our lifetime, moving our faith and understanding forward stage by stage, as we grow towards full maturity. Hopefully, by the time we reach death we will have fulfilled our potential for spiritual growth. This is what God wants for us all, and fortunately we never have to go through it alone, even when, like Jesus on the cross, we feel as if God has abandoned us.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God (Isaiah 43:2-3; NLT).

References

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8; NLT).

When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3; NLT).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

No test has overtaken you but what is common to all people. You can be confident that God is faithful and will not let you be tested beyond your means. And with any trial God will provide you with a way out of it, as well as the strength to bear the trial (1 Corinthians 10:13; TIB).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

 

Evil

Ruth Kirk

This stark prayer was given to me as soon as I started to pray this morning, and I knew I had to share it immediately.

Our world is now filled with people indulging hateful thoughts, writing and saying hateful things about others, and approving of, or carrying out, oppressive, abusive, hateful, cruel, violent and destructive deeds.

Many even appear to believe that God approves of such behaviour. As Jesus said, “The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me” (John 16:2-3; NLT). Shocking words indeed.

However “religious” we think we are, and however fervently we pray, or preach, if we hate others we know nothing at all about God, for God is Love.

We cannot pick and choose which parts of Christ’s Gospel we want to apply to ourselves, and which parts we prefer to reject. So, here is today’s blog:

Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13; NLT).

Save us from indulging evil thoughts.
Save us from expressing evil words.
Save us from committing evil deeds.

Please help us to take captive every thought,
And make each one obedient to Christ,
For all who do not love do not know you.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV.

References

Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

The words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you (Matthew 15:18-20; NLT).

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say… “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?“ And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me” (Matthew 25:41-5; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

 

‘Splitting’ God

Ruth Kirk

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth (Romans 8:22; TIB).

Introduction
We should never be tempted to split God’s nature into ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ characteristics, despite strong historic, social and religious traditions of doing so.

This is because longstanding pressures to uphold male dominance can encourage us to embrace the aspects of God we see as ‘masculine’, whilst downplaying, or rejecting, those we see as ‘feminine’.

Consequences
In male-dominated societies, splitting God into ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ aspects tempts us to dismiss the ‘feminine’ as being inherently less valuable and less important than the ‘masculine’. Unfortunately, this has had disastrous consequences for many people’s lives:

-It leads to God being seen as overwhelmingly ‘male’ – an incalculable loss to humanity.
-It encourages the belief that men and boys are inherently superior to women and girls.
-It legitimises prejudice, discrimination, exploitation, exclusion and violence towards women and girls.
-It encourages men to believe they have the right to exercise their supposed ‘superiority’ over women with impunity.

The result has been that women have had to struggle against their supposed ‘inferiority’ throughout history, whilst being systematically denied the opportunities and freedoms which have given men educational, legal, employment and financial advantages.

Conclusion
Sadly, many people still cling tightly to the traditional concept of a wholly ‘masculine’ God.

Others acknowledge that God has some ‘feminine’ qualities, although these are generally considered insufficient to change their belief in God’s essential, overriding ‘masculinity’.

This means that in prayers, liturgies, hymns, Biblical translations, spiritual writings and much beyond, God is still traditionally conceived of, addressed, and referred to as an essentially ‘masculine’ Being.

However, when we grasp that God is One, and cannot be split in any way, all these false social, religious and linguistic dichotomies fall away forever. Then, at last, we begin to see God as God really is.

The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4, NLT).

We will see God as God really is (1 John 3:2; TIB).

References

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there (Job 1:21; LSB).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

The Almighty …will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25; NKJV).

Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? (Job 38:8-9; NLT).

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

All creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22; NLT).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

Then YHWH came down in a cloud and stood before Moses to proclaim the divine Name, I AM. And YHWH passed before Moses, proclaiming, “I AM! I am God, YHWH, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in kindness and faithfulness; faithful to the thousandth generation, forgiving injustice, rebellion and sin; yet not leaving the guilty unpunished, calling the children and grandchildren to account for the sins of their ancestors, to the third and fourth generation!” (Exodus 34:5-7; TIB).

 

Making mistakes

Ruth Kirk

Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am frail (Psalm 6:2; NET).

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

Even when
I make mistakes,
And get things wrong,
And try, but fail –
It’s still okay
To be myself,
Because God knows
That I am frail.

So, every time
I speak amiss,
I’ll ask God’s help
Without delay –
Then I’ll face up
To what I’ve done,
By saying, “Sorry”,
Straight away.

I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”? (Jeremiah 8:6; NLT).

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

 

When you fall

Ruth Kirk

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion (Isaiah 40:30; NLT).

The LORD upholds all who fall (Psalm 145:14; NKJV).

Let me catch you
When you fall.
Let me catch you,
One and all:
For my heart
Is full of love,
Streaming down
From heaven above.

Let me bear you
When you rise,
Far beyond
The eastern skies:
There you’ll live
In paradise,
Where all are one
With me, the Christ.

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; JB).

References

After I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me (John 14:1-6; JB).

In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old (Isaiah 63:9; BSB).

We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

I bear you on eagles’ wings, and bring you in unto Myself (Exodus 19:4; YLT).

Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31; NKJV).

Go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you (Daniel 12:13; NLT).

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:7-8; NLT).

As the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes (Matthew 24:27; NLT).

 

Start again

Ruth Kirk

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9; NIV).

Start again with every breath –
Whatever’s happened: start afresh.

Start anew to face the truth –
In every quarrel: call a truce.

Start once more when you’ve told lies –
Admit your fault; apologise.

Start afresh when you’ve caused pain –
Confess your guilt; then try again.

Start from scratch when you’ve done wrong –
Ask Christ to help you: he is strong.

Start anew; forgive your foe –
And never give back blow for blow.

Start, right now, to face your strife
With Christ beside you: this is life.

So take heart with each new breath –
Whatever’s happened: start afresh!

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

References

This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent – Jesus the Messiah (John 17:3; ISV).

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11; NIV).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth (Psalm 103:8-11; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

Your sins have been forgiven through Jesus (1 John 2:12; NLT).

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15; NLT).

Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:44-5; NLT).

 

Judgement day

Ruth Kirk

We must all stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; NLT).

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT). 

There is a sense in which every day is judgement day, because we all stand before Christ whenever we pray, and he already knows everything about us.

Seeing him face to face is like looking into a mirror. Through his eyes we see with perfect clarity the truth about ourselves, and about all we think, say, do and feel.

All we can do is to acknowledge our sins with complete openness and honesty, telling him how sorry we are.

Then, we receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, for which we give thanks.

Lastly, we can move forward again, leaving our guilt behind. Having been renewed, we are ready to start again, clinging tightly, as always, to God’s love, help and support.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9; NIV).

References

We shall see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).

Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

He restoreth my soul (Psalm 23:3; KJV).

 

Continual spontaneous prayer

Ruth Kirk

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

Continual spontaneous prayer is a way of life. It means opening our whole selves to God at every moment, sharing every thought, sensation, emotion and experience with God as it happens.

In this approach to prayer, we hide nothing whatsoever from God. We may be tempted to push unwanted thoughts or impulses aside, but instead, we choose to acknowledge them openly and willingly. Then we deal with them straightforwardly, directly with God.

This way of praying is constant, dynamic, and totally honest. It has no beginning, middle, or end. Rather, it is a long-term, two-way conversation with God.

A life of continuous prayer means spontaneously expressing our love, worship, praise, thanks, intercessions, rejoicing, sorrows, fears, and cries for help. We share them with God as they arise within us.

It also includes unplanned periods when our prayer continues, but no words are needed. This wordless communion, when we simply rest in oneness with God, is one of the most intimate kinds of prayer we can experience here, on earth.

Above all, a life of continual, spontaneous prayer means being completely real with God, who is always completely real with us. This is the kind of relationship God longs to have with every one of us.

The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV). 

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

References

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him (Hebrews 10:20; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NIV).

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence (Ephesians 3:12; NLT).

I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

We are united with Christ (Ephesians 1:3; NLT).

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

 

GrowIng more like Christ

Ruth Kirk

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

We can’t grow more like Christ
Through force,
Through duty, rituals,
Or shame.

We can’t grow more like Christ
Through guilt,
Through nagging, brainwashing,
Or pain.

We can’t grow more like Christ
Through fear,
Or threats of punishment
In hell –

We only grow like Christ
Through loving God,
And others,
And ourselves.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

Love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others] (Matthew 22:39; AMP).

References

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).