One of the common means by which Satan works to pull us away from God is through a combination of guilt and materialism. First, he throws guilt in our faces to the point where we feel unworthy of a genuine relationship with God, then there is this empty void in our lives that must be filled… so along comes materialism, a means to attempt to fill the void. It could be money, book reading, television watching, sports, etc. If it’s trying to fill a void in your life that should be filled with a genuine relationship with God, then something is wrong! What is acting as a blockage between you and your heavenly father? Do you feel unworthy to fellowship openly and freely with Him? Do you feel dirty inside or not fit to be in His presence for one reason or another? Look into those things and get them cleaned up. It is through the Blood of Christ that our sin might be washed away and our conscience cleansed!

Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

So many times, a person will find it hard to forgive because they feel that they are letting the offender off the hook. While we are to let those who offend us off our hook, that by no means releases them from God’s hook. Did you know that God’s Word tells us to give place to God’s wrath:

Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Apparently, if we take matters into our own hands, we can actually tie God’s hands by not ‘giving place to wrath’.

God’s wrath may not come upon them quickly, but rest assured that God does not lie and that mistake is recorded on their file, and He will not let that sin go unpaid. They will either have to turn from their wickedness and repent of the sin, or else face judgment for it.

Furthermore, if we refuse to forgive others, we will block God’s forgiveness of our own sins, and we will then be judged for them!

Matthew 6:15, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”