Tim Chester writes, “Ongoing guilt makes your opinion the one that matters most; shame makes people’s opinions what matters most. Repentance is making God central and accepting his declaration that you’re righteous in Christ.” pg 134, You Can Change, IVP, 2008.

So often we think we’re doing the right thing when we don’t forgive ourselves and it can almost feel good to berate ourselves or beat ourselves over the head over our sin. But then we’re layering sin upon sin because we’re disobeying God’s invitation to receive His forgiveness and be reconciled to Him.