I admit I struggle with this. How long before I get back up? It so often feels like cheating if I just quickly jump 'back on track' but others tell me don't beat yourself up, you have to forgive yourself as well. But since I've never been very good at 'hearing His voice' or knowing what God or the Holy Spirit is trying to prompt me towards, I just don't feel rightrejoicing, like I'm taking advantage of God's kindness, knowing I'm forgiven. How soon is it okay?
It is not ok. That is your conscience convicting you and you ought to take it very seriously.
Others on here are telling you to "not worry about it, you are already forgiven." The Bible does not teach that.
The Bible teaches...
Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Not only do we have to confess our wrong doing, we also have to forsake it permanently. If we are stealing then we have to go and steal no more, if we are engaged in sexual sin then we have to engage in sexual sin no more, if we are engaged in gossip then we have to go and gossip no more. This is what God demands.
How is this achieved? Simple. Through broken godly sorrow, wrought by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which leads to a real change of mind (and change of action) unto life. Paul described it like this...
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. In other words we are supposed to repent one time. The Prodigal Son repented one time and forsook his wayward course and sought out his father with a true heart, confessing his wrong doing, confessing his unworthiness, pleading for mercy. His father forgave him freely for he repented.
Godly sorrow works a real repentance. The sorrow of the world works death.
If your heart is not wholeheartedly submitted to God then don't deceive yourself into thinking you have repented. Repentance is not something we do over and over again whereby we continue to rebel against God in the knowing engagement of evil.
Read the scriptures and reflect on what you read. Examine your heart, be broken, mourn, then yield to God as you realise it is the only way. Approach the mercy seat with a true heart in repentance and faith and God will cleanse you.
Don't be deceived by those who would tickle your ears with lies about your sins being forgiven in advance. Don't be deceived by those who would tickle your ears with notions that "Jesus paid your sin debt in full" thus cancelling it out. Jesus taught no such thing nor did anyone who truly followed him.