Friday Fight 25: Expressing or Suppressing?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF25.

How many times have we asked God to forgive our sins, yet we still struggle silently? We place everything at the cross; we ask forgiveness, forgive ourselves, yet still carry this heavy responsibility. How do we change these things that burden our hearts?

Expressing or Suppressing?

How many times have we asked God's forgiveness, yet we silently struggle with pain and guilt? The Bible is clear that Christ suffered tremendously for our iniquities; the second Adam came to take away the sins of the first Adam. So why walk around carrying burdens or guilt?

In our culture, we equate guilt as a label of our crime and imposed penalty. But what happens when we "Walk to the Cross?" Do we carry our burdens to the cross and leave them? Well, maybe some of the time. For God to forgive us, we must repent, not deny, downplay or suppress, but honestly share our hearts. When we hurt someone, and that person is accessible, express remorse for your intentional or unintentional behavior. Then, with that same humble posture, ask forgiveness from God.

How does darkness work? Satan will do anything to keep us from apologizing by insisting we hide, deny, or downplay what we've done. Satan tricks us into believing that apologizing and asking forgiveness is unnecessary, anything to prevent us from walking in true freedom.

Guilt is a result of sin and is helpful when it leads to repentance. But it should be liberating to the soul. But, unfortunately, darkness wants us to continue beating up ourselves and others. In these cases, guilt becomes a false weight.

How do we fight? If you have hurt someone and connecting is possible, apologize and ask forgiveness, then repent to God. Try not to make excuses, minimize, or twist things; sincerely apologize and move forward.

Let's try to express and not suppress and walk in the freedom of God's mercy. Let's not allow darkness to force us to carry false weight.

Psalm 32:5

Pastor Shannon

New Life Church