The burden of Guilt!!!- Thank God for Jesus

Lately I've been burdened with sin and guilt over the things which I've done yet wish I never did. Most of the time, its to do with what I said, or the way I reacted in a certain situation and often I judge myself based on what I think other people might have thought of me in that instant. I've felt frustrated and upset and heavy hearted at times but sometimes it goes away and it seems like all is ok again but then I find myself once again being bombarded with these thoughts once more. Earlier this week I had to say to the devil speaking in the back of my mind to literally "F- off" (apologies for the language) because he himself wasn't perfect anyway so I don't know why he's talking. I know as a christian, I'm supposed to speak so that my speech brings grace to hearers. In this case it was in my head lol... not to make an excuse or anything but anyway I'll get straight to the point.

I watched this preacher on a Hillsong tv program and he basically talked about the rooster that crowed 3 times for Peter to finally realise that he had denied Jesus and confirm what Jesus had told him earlier.
The preacher compared this rooster's crow to the voice of the enemy that constantly accuses us when we've faltered as christians and time and time again, the rooster constantly crows to remind us of our mistakes which only ties us down and prevents us from fully going for what God has promised us.

In the end, the preacher spoke about the day of pentecost after the resurrection of Christ which meant that the disciples; Peter in this case was filled with the Holy spirit and at this time, when the enemy's voice might have showed up again to bring him down, the Power of the Holy spirit was there to combat every accusation so that Peter was able to go on and achieve the goal which Christ had set i.e. to build His church.

Revelation 12:10 says "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his christ: FOR THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, WHICH ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT"

Thank God for this reminder. He knew I'd need it today

vs 11 says "And they overcame them by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death"

So this is what I am doing now. I declare that I am a child of God. I am no longer a servant of sin. I am a servant of God and I am more than a conquerer through Him that loved me

Romans 7vs 19 For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do
vs 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
vs 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin

So when I am burdened with sin I'll remember...

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit"
vs 2: For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death"


My sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus.  I no longer heed to the voice of the enemy that constantly points at my mistakes and causes me to be burdened because I am free from his accusations .. After all he himself is not perfect! God has saved me and my response today is to fully recieve the true gift of salvation which He has offered me by believing what He has said about me. I was never "perfect" yet He called me and so I will not try to be because now, God calls me His child. I am His righteousness and so I stand no longer ashamed because God forgives my sins and remembers them no more (Hebrews 8:12). I belong to Jesus. Sin no longer has dominion over me for I am not under the law but under GRACE (Romans 6:14). Thank you Jesus!!!

I know that time and time again the enemy will try to burden me with guilt but thank God for the holy spirit for He will bring to remembrance what I have learnt today about freedom in Christ and so I declare that I am an overcomer in Jesus name Amen!!!

I remember- The joys of being a child in Africa

I remember as a child, the many times myself and my siblings would walk about our neighbourhood exploring the different places we could find
I remember when the Muslims used to celebrate "idr-fetir", the festival after their fasting period.
It was always fun because we used to see the many different cattle and how big they were. Some with horns, others without and some so strong, it took more than 5 men to bring them down before they could be slaughtered for the festival
I remember the many different coloured outfits people would wear out just to display the festive spirit.
I remember the foods which were sent over by the Muslim friends which the whole family enjoyed .

I remember Easter, when we used to make palm nut soup and different decorative items with the palm branches
I remember when the church would walk around the neighbourhood singing songs of "hoseana, (Ashanti way of pronouncing hosanna" just to commemorate the entry of Christ into Jerusalem
I remember Christmas  It was a beautiful time to have chicken. Yes Chicken!!! and all the many meals which we could eat just because it was Christmas!
I remember 24th December, the night before the real day of Christmas  when music would be played so loud and Christmas lights would be displayed infront of our family house; many neighbours would walk past and some would stay just to enjoy the festive spirit
I remember when we were bought beautiful dresses and new underwear, socks, shoes and jewellery just to go to church on Sunday to celebrate Christmas
I remember when we used to go to the rubbish dump site to explore the surroundings. It was always a fun opportunity to find objects which we could play with on our return home
I remember when we used to make little soups and stews in empty cans of tomatoes which we could find in our little pretend kitchens
I remember when we used to play "mum, dad and family" with our cousins and sometimes one of us would get upset and decide not to play
I remember when my grand mother would buy us little mortars, pestles and ladles to make our own "fufu" and soup
I remember when she used to go to the farm and return a few days later with bananas, plantain and other food stuff.
I remember the plant she called "see koto" which we used to knock each other on the head with just for the fun of it
I remember when my cousin would intentionally drop his meat into our soup just so he could pick it up and scoop some of thesoup up whilst doing it
I remember when my auntie would leave some of her evening rice till morning and the first person to find it would have the right to eat it with the tasty tomato stew from the previous day
I remember when my aunt used to go on her trips and we had to clean up the house and set it in order before she arrived to avoid gettingtold off
I remember when my teeth used to hurt in the evenings because I had stuck tooth picks in the gaps to get out locked up food.
I remember the times I cried and my older sister would pick me up andgive me a "piggy back" just to calm me down
I remember when my sister, myself and my cousins would sing and drum on anything we could find just to make music
I remember the ants in Ghana which would bite us and leave bumps which itch so much so that we immediately developed hatred for them and wanted to squash them the moment we found the "culprit ant"
I remember the times when we were told scary stories of the Ghosts of people dying in one town and being found in another
I remember the Nigerian movies that used to scare us so much because of the "Juju" which was portrayed in them
I remember when life was so simple, beautiful and fun without costing money
I remember the good old days and now I thank God for bringing me up in Africa to enjoy the simplicity of life in my childhood.

By Trudie

What do you remember as a child?