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I am having a problem dealing with overwhelming guilt over sin. Just yesterday and today, I committed several sins that I had abstained from in almost a year. I asked for forgiveness and read about forgiveness in my Study Bible. The guilt is just too strong and I use it as an excuse to continue in these sins more. I was abstaining from this sin for all this time because I thought that by doing so, God would give me something that I had been asking for. My number one purpose for not sinning was not for God. I did not get what I want and I remember over the course of this year, I would check and see if what was I asking for was still available, simply because if it was not available, I would just go back to my previous sinful lifestyle. Even though I knew this, I still continued to allow myself to be tempted and entertained these thoughts. I put myself in a position where I would sin. I can't let go of the guilt of losing almost a year of being "sin-free". Could it be a pride issue? I know God completely forgets our sins when we confess and repent, but I just feel that this is something that I may not be able to forget.

Falling into sin is a natural condition for humanity. Pride is not an unusual foundation for most sins. Having a personal agenda for things prayed for is not an unusual prayer for many. The problem you are having is that you seem to be stuck in guilt. This problem is actually your new sin that is overriding your other sins. In the parable of the prodigal son, there is no mention of guilt. When the young man realized he had made a terrible mistake, he immediately removed himself from that situation and had complete confidence in his father to take him back in any condition, even as damaged goods, and he was gladly willing to accept anything from him. It is the wallowing in guilt that keeps many people stuck in repeating certain sins over and over again, thinking what's the use? If you truly trust God with all your heart that He will forgive and forget, then you will be able to move beyond the guilt and into the freedom brought about by true repentance, remission of sins, and restoration.