Lately my mind keeps pondering how Peter must have been feeling after that rooster crowed. Guilt for sure. Shame, lousy, and pretty pathetic. Jesus told Peter what was going to happen, that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed after Jesus was arrested. And just like every other time Jesus made a prediction like that, it happened. It makes me think of all the times I’ve felt guilty. Guilt over yelling at my kids, or not being so nice to my husband. Guilt over bad decisions I made in the past. Guilt makes you feel pretty down. It’s a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach that continuously gnaws at you. What amazes and astonishes me, is that when Jesus rose and saw Peter again, Peter was instantly forgiven. Instantly. Just like that. Clean slate. No hard feelings. The same way that Jesus forgives us when we repent. If we ask for forgiveness, we have to forgive ourselves as well and let go of the guilt. And if you’re forgiven, don’t keep bringing up your sins of the past. Use them as lessons learned and let them go. Only you have the will power to make better choices and change for the good. Praying is absolutely necessary but you have to be willing to put in the work as well. Be obedient to the Lord. Read your Bible, spend time with Him. He has a plan for you, but if you’re not close to Him, you’ll never know what it is.