"Lay Down The Whip"

Have you ever beat yourself up over past mistakes, failures and sins?  I know this well because I have been the "queen" of carrying around a load of guilt and shame---a load so heavy that it is no wonder that I stayed in a pit of depression for years!!  Sometimes we wonder how we can live that "abundant Christian life" that we hear about.  Jesus said that He came to give us life and give it abundantly, but so many people go around with no joy, no peace and carrying heavy loads.  I believe that one reason is that we are continuing to live under condemnation and guilt even though we know in Romans 8:1 that scripture tells us that there is NO condemnation (guilt) to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but the spirit.  We are meant to live "guilt free."  When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL iniquity.  Not only does He forgive us---He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness and remembers them NO MORE!!! They are GONE!!  After living years of carrying such a load of guilt and shame, I had a "divine appointment" about two years ago with someone from another state who I had never even met.  I had no idea that the Lord would have me "bear my soul" to this complete stranger, but when I did, this is what she said to me---"I see you with a whip in your hand and you are taking that whip and beating yourself over your back until you are red and bleeding.  Every time you whip yourself, you are saying to Jesus that the beating that He took for you was not enough---that you have to continue to whip yourself; but, the beating He took was MORE than enough so that you do not have to."  This is pure GRACE--He did it for us.  This revelation brought life and healing to me.  She was telling me it was time to "lay down the whip."  Beloved, is it time for you to lay down the whip and drop that heavy burden you are carrying?  Hear His words in Matthew 11:28-30---"Come unto Me, ALL you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find REST unto your soul.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  I pray today that we will all hear the still, small voice of His spirit saying to us "Lay down the whip" and I believe He will continue to remind us over and over---because we are slow learners---to not pick up the whip again, and I believe we will hear Him speak to our hearts-- "My GRACE is sufficient---you don't need the whip anymore---I have set you FREE!!!"  Amen and Amen
Blessings!!!
Carolyn