Time Out! Devotions

Psalm 40:1-17 (NIV)

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴ Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

⁵ Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.

⁸ I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.

¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

¹² For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

¹³ Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

¹⁴ May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

¹⁶ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “The LORD be exalted!”

¹⁷ Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Guilt comes from a feeling of responsibility for some wrongdoing. Certain convictions come from the Holy Spirit’s efforts to turn us away from sin and guide us to our heavenly Father. But not all guilt stems from ungodly actions.

False guilt, which is not prompted by sin, can surface for a variety of reasons, such as disappointment in one’s own performance, a sense of shame over past events, or criticism by others for unmet expectations. Rejection or a pattern of abuse from childhood can also trigger this emotion. False guilt is a powerful weapon the Enemy uses to direct our thoughts away from God.

Whether false or real, the emotion of guilt divides our mind, drains our energy, and creates a sense of insecurity. If it is allowed to linger, we can start to have doubts about God’s goodness and love for us. Depression and hopelessness may follow. To cope, some people develop compulsive behaviors in an attempt to replace self-reproach with something pleasurable. Excessive amounts of shopping, eating, television, Internet, and physical activity are common ways people try to push away self-condemning thoughts.

Dealing quickly with guilt is important. Acknowledge the emotion to the Lord, and identify the reason behind it. If you’ve violated God’s law, ask His forgiveness, and take steps to change the behavior. If you discover false guilt, confess it and ask God to adjust your thinking to match His. In either case, praise Him because He has promised to forgive His children’s sins and remove guilt.

(by Dr. Charles Stanley from the January 2008 issue of In Touch devotional magazine)