February 28, 2016 ~ Condemnation is the bottom line under a whole lot of issues in our lives.  One may feel condemned from justifiable guilt as a result of wrong doing, transgressing God’s moral standards and being in rebellion toward Him.  We may know we are directly or indirectly disobeying God’s standards ~ acts of commission or omission, refusing relationship with Him and as a result are filled with a sense of guilt, unworthiness and condemnation.  Further, persistent resistance of the Holy Spirit’s call, conviction and warning can result in our consciences being seared and our becoming shameless and open to evil.  However if we have entered into relationship with Him and are seeking His daily will and guidance and are not under conviction from the Holy Spirit or being prompted by the Holy Spirit over an issue, then it can be the Enemy harassing us with a vague, pervasive sense of guilt and condemnation.  The Holy Spirit convicts and is very direct and specific when He wants you to deal with something or to do something.  A pervasive sense of condemnation when you know you are right with God can come from a background of, or, of current toxic relationships expressing judgment, disapproval and rejection.  You may not consciously realize you are in agreement with these messages.  People who have accepted and entered into God’s grace and received His offer of reconciliation, love and power will develop self love and love of others and be able to offer that grace and hope even if they feel a correction is needed and should express that to you.  They wish to see you reconnected to the Lord, to do well in life and see your good and potential developed whereas these toxic people will not.  So it is critical to understand your freedom from rejection, judgment, condemnation and driven, busy, religious social and good works when you are in relationship with Christ.  Let the Holy Spirit lead in all you do, not guilt or condemnation which can be employed by others to subtly manipulate you into their agendas.   II Corinthians 3:16-18 is a beautiful passage, especially in the amplified version.  Romans 8:1 is your promise!  Galatians is all about grace.  Once the decision is made to genuinely receive eternal salvation through Christ Jesus, you are never again under any condemnation.  You are sealed by the Holy Spirit.  If you can go back to the pig pen of ways opposed to the nature and law of God and can stay there comfortably, then it would be questionable if you really did respond and receive Christ into your life.  But, if we should go back to the pig pen, or like the dog, back to his vomit, and we hate it there and it no longer feels good and no longer feels like us, we know something has changed deep within.  Run back to the Father’s arms.  Talk to Him about what happened.  He knows about the power of sin and its roots in our lives which is why He came through Christ Jesus to make a way back to Him, we being unable to truly free and heal ourselves from our fallen nature.  He will reveal the root and the reasons underneath your behaviors and as you process these with Him, He will help and He will heal.  Condemnation, whether from self or from the Enemy only keeps you apart from the Source of your strength, remedy and healing.  This is an extremely key point.  You will get nowhere if you allow yourself or the Enemy to separate you from intimacy with Christ.  Christ already knows about your issues, your immorality, your brokenness, your insecurities and pride issues, your fear of intimacy and whatever else may be going on and so much more that you yourself are aware!  He wants intimacy with you right where you are.  You do not scare Him, are not too much for Him.  He is quite able to truly transforms lives.  He is not hard or harsh.  He can perform needed painful surgery if you let Him, but it will be with tender care and grace and for your healing and wholeness.  I hope you can see the position, the power, the healing and the loving Presence we have in Him to seek Him and enter into relationship with Him.  Step into His Life, approval, grace and love and enter into healthy self love and become all He designed you to be!