Jesus, since my struggle with guilt is one of the biggest issues of my life, it is the thing I want to get rid of the most; and, it is the thing that You want to help me be set free from. However, make it clear to me that it can be the most difficult issue for me to get healed from.

Jesus, show me that it is like taking a long journey; I will have to make a lot of turns, get on a lot of different highways and streets, have to stop to take care of various physical needs, and handle any errors in the decisions I make. Help me understand that every step of the way, as long as I don’t make any wrong turns, I WILL be making progress. As long as I don’t give up on the trip, turn around, and go home, I WILL end up at my destination. Show me that, that is the way it is with You and Your studies.

Jesus, help me understand that getting healed from the difficulties of guilt is going to take some time and a lot of studying. But, help me keep in mind that my studying will be like driving to a destination, it will be taking me where I want and need to go. Help me be patient; and, help me allow You to take me where I need to go.

Jesus, show me that if I had a disease that was threatening my life, but I had a doctor who could cure me, I would have to be willing to do what they said. If I failed to follow their advice and failed to allow them to do what they needed to do, I would delay or maybe even keep them from saving my life. But, if I WANTED to be cured BAD ENOUGH I would allow them to do things I normally wouldn’t allow anyone to do to me.

Jesus, help me understand that just like the disease in this illustration would CAUSE me to enter into an obedience and trust relationship with my doctor, I have to allow my problem with guilt to lead me into believing You are trustworthy and are my best friend.

Jesus, help me follow Your leadership and yield to Your requirements. AND, make it clear that in doing so, my problem WILL be turned into one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. Because I DESIRED to be healed, I got to know You on a level I never would have. If I had not had the problem, I might have refused to apply myself like I am now.

Jesus, teach me that at first I may respond to You with a trial and error method. In that case it may take some failures and some successes before I learn that I only get breakthroughs when I am obeying and trusting You. But, because I DESIRE to be helped by You, help me keep on pressing forward into better and better spiritual skill.

Jesus, teach me that You won’t punish me for refusing or failing to follow Your directions. Just like refusing or failing to obey and trust my doctor will cause me to suffer from the disease that is trying to kill me, so will refusal or failure to follow Your directions cause me the pain that guilt issues create in me. Help me understand that it isn’t You punishing me; help me dislike the pain enough to CHOOSE TO turn to You as my solution.