“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection”  –  Henri Nouwen

When will you start believing and acknowledging the fact that because of the Cross you have no right to ‘reject’ yourself? To constantly feel ashamed or embarrassed about something you have done? To be weighed down by guilt?

Jesus Christ took on that rejection, your shame and guilt when He allowed Himself to be crucified on the Cross.  Stop demeaning what the Lord has done for you.

Many addictions in our lives are there because of self-rejection.  If we loved ourselves as God has commanded us to love ourselves we would recognize the immense worth we have in His eyes and we would seek help for our addictions to alcohol, gambling, eating disorders, anger, guilt – the list is endless.

Guilt is one of the worst addictions we can have because it keeps us trapped on a treadmill doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.

An addiction is the condition of being abnormally dependent on some habit and some synonyms for guilt are shame, regret, remorse, self-reproach, self-condemnation.

How will you ever grow into the person God created you to be if you are constantly being weighed down by addiction and guilt?

Jesus Christ died on the Cross to free us.  In His resurrection He gave us the means to be freed from guilt and addictions.   Some of the reasons that we remain trapped in our addictions and guilt are because we have stopped following the Lord (we only give Him lip-service, our hearts are no longer in it, we feel defeated), we don’t seek Him or inquire of Him anymore.

We are complacent and think “the Lord will do nothing, either good or bad”.  God says that He will punish those who are complacent…who think “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad”. (Zephaniah 1).

“Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God.  But we are the ones in the wrong, not God.  Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives.  As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion.  Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God”  –  Oswald Chambers

We are trapped in our addictions because of our shame and yet God says “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth…”  (Isaiah 54:4)

Jesus took our shame, our humiliation, our embarrassment and “carried our sins in His body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.  It is by His wounds that you have been healed”.  (1 Peter 2:24)

Listen to these words:

“The Lord has taken away your punishment…The Lord your God is with you He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing…the sorrows…He will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you”  (Zephaniah 3:15-18)

Stop making excuses

Stop giving in to self-pity

Stop blaming your lousy childhood

Stop blaming your circumstances

AND

Start seeking God’s face in prayer and Bible reading

Start forgiving yourself as Christ has forgiven you

Start living in the fullness of God’s love

Start looking for professional help if necessary

Start fellow shipping with other Believers

AND

Start being kind to yourself, tender-hearted to yourself, forgiving one another (including yourself) as God in Christ forgave you.  (Ephesians 4:32)