“What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.” Psalm 32:1-2 (TLB)

Feeling guilty or ashamed can cause you to lose your happiness. So if you want to be happy, you’ve got to get rid of guilt and maintain a clear conscience—because you can’t feel guilty and be happy at the same time.

Philippians 2:15 says, “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” (NLT).

Have you noticed that a jeweler will always put diamonds on black velvet when showing them to a customer? That’s because they shine brighter against a black backdrop. 

As cultures crumble and the world becomes darker and darker, Christians can shine brighter and brighter. You’re made to live with such integrity and authenticity that when people look at you, they see a difference. They see a joy that comes from having a clear conscience.

You might say, “I’d like to be happy, but how do I keep my conscience clear when it’s not clear right now?” The Living Bible paraphrase gives the answer: “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record” (Psalm 32:1-2).

Happiness, joy, and relief are three things everybody’s looking for in life. We all want to be happy. We all want to enjoy life. We all want relief from our pain. The Bible says we get those things through purity—and purity comes from forgiveness through God’s grace.

So how do you keep a pure, clear conscience?

At the beginning and the end of every day, do a spiritual inventory. Talk to God about anything that is standing between you and him—and then deal with the junk from your day.

When we confess our sins, “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).