Tamin’ the Guilt Critter
Well, now, heaven’s to Betsy, Buttercup, pull yourself a sturdy porch chair over here and be ‘a-mindin’ and ‘a-turnin’ a deef ear to that there big, green parrot over in the wire cage. My neighbor done asked me to babysit him for a lil’ while, and he jes’ don’t know when to quit ‘a-squakin’. You gotta be ‘a-focusin’ your thoughts over this way ‘cause we’re ‘bout to wade knee-deep into the real muddy creek of guilt, and I can be ‘a-promisin’ you that it’ll be ‘a-feelin’ a whole lot like ‘a-tryin’ to herd a flock of stubborn chickens that done keep ‘a-runnin’ toward the neighbor’s yard. But you jes’ hang on ‘cause God has a way of ‘a-turnin’ even our messiest moments into somethin’ mighty redeemin’.
Psalm 32:5 done lays the whole thing out plain. It says that when we finally quit tryin’ to cover up our iniquity and confess our sins, God forgives the guilt of our sin. That means we don’t have ta’ keep ‘a‑hidin’ behind emotional hay bales ‘a-hopin’ nobody done notices. God already knows, and He’s ready to clean us up quicker than a mama hen ‘a-chasin’ mud off her chicks.
Guilt is one of those mean ol’ critters that done sneaks up on you like an ol’ raccoon in the moonlight. You think you done put the trash can lid on real tight, but there it is, ’a- sittin’ right there in your yard, ‘a-lookin’ at you like you done owe it money. Paul tells us plain as day in Romans 3:10 and 23 that none of us are righteous and all of us have sinned. That there means every last one of us has some o’ that there raccoon trash scattered somewhere.
Adam and Eve done felt it, too. Genesis 3:7 says that their eyes were opened and they suddenly felt shame. Next thing you done know, they were a sewin’ fig leaves together like two squirrels ‘a-tryin’ to knit sweaters ‘a-fore winter.
But here is the real good news, Buttercup. When we recognize our guilt, that there is what done nudges us toward confessin’, repentin’, and lettin’ Jesus clean us up. And once we belong to Him, the Holy Spirit starts ‘a-workin’ inside us, ‘a-pokin’ our conscience like a woodpecker ‘a-tappin’ on a hollow tree. That’s the godly sorrow Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 7:10. It leads us away from sin and toward salvation.
Now Satan, doggone him, he done uses false guilt. That there kind o’ guilt is like a possum ‘a-playin’ dead in your driveway. It looks real, but it ain’t real at all. Paul done warns that worldly sorrow leads to spiritual death in that there same verse. If we let false guilt git to settlin’ in, we’re basically ‘a-sayin’ Jesus didn’t do a good enough job ‘o -forgivin’ us. And that there jus’ ain’t true.
First John 1:9 is ‘a-remindin’ us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So, we gotta be ‘a-lettin’ the Holy Spirit do His good work, ‘a-confessin’ what needs confessin’, and then ‘a-standin’ tall like a rooster at sunrise ‘a-knowin’ you’re done forgiven and free.
Father, be ‘a-helpin’ me tell the difference between Your convictin’ truth and the enemy’s false guilt. Be ‘a-teachin’ me to confess quickly, be ;’a-receivin’ Your forgiveness fully, and ‘a-walkin’ in the freedom You done promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now go on, Buttercup, and remember that even a muddy ol’ pig can git real cleaned up if’n it stands still long enough. You gotta be ‘a-lettin’ God wash you off real good so’s He can be ‘a-shinin’ you up for others to be able to be ‘a- seein’ His bright light in you. And be ‘a-keepin’ in mind that every time you done choose grace over guilt, you are ‘a‑walkin’ proof that the Lord can turn even the most hardheaded barnyard critter into a testimony worth ‘a-listenin’ to.
With joy,
Gwen
