Have you ever wished you could know the difference between conviction and condemnation? Are you tired of feeling weighed down with guilt and shame?
If so, you’re not alone! I believe condemnation is one of our most common and crippling heart-struggles. And I’m determined to kick them to the curb! I hope you’ll join me.
In my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion today, I share the major difference between condemnation and conviction.
Condemnation is usually a broad stroke of shame that sweeps across our thoughts with generalized statements about who we are in an insulting and accusing way. The tone of condemnation is always accusing, questioning, confusing and will leads to feelings of guilt and self-hatred.
Conviction is specific and won’t condemn us for who we are, but will be more focused on something we’ve done. The Holy Spirit’s conviction always includes wisdom and instruction to lead us towards resolution, not shame.
Condemnation focuses on the problem. Conviction offers a solution.
- Take a minute to write down the most frequent shaming, blaming or accusing thoughts you have that make you feel condemned.
- Using the contrasting examples between conviction and condemnation below, re-write the statement and replace your words of condemnation with convicting yet loving truths the Holy Spirit might say.
- Be sure to offer yourself forgiveness plus a solution that reflects God’s goal of restoration and His tone of grace.
Instead of the lie: “You’re such a failure as a [wife, mom, daughter, friend],” the Holy Spirit might say, “You were really critical the way you talked to _________. You need to say you’re sorry and ask forgiveness. Then say something to build them up instead of tearing them down.”
Instead of the accusing label: “You’re so hypocritical!” The Holy Spirit might say, “You judge others for gossiping, but you’re doing the same thing when you talk about your neighbor at work. Apologize for what you said today and share a few things that are positive about her.”
These are two steps to help us kick condemnation to the curb, and there’s more but….
** Due to technical roadblocks and major scheduling challenges, my “3 Ways to Kick Condemnation to the Curb” is not quite finalized. But no worries!! I’d LOVE to SEND it to YOU via EMAIL today this week. Just ENTER your EMAIL below!
Also, BE sure to ENTER my GIVEAWAY and SIGN UP for the FREE download of God’s Promises too!
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I am giving away 3 Summer Devotional Gift Packs!! Each one winner will receive my “Confident Heart 60-Day Devotional” book, a prayer journal and my “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence” message on CD! Enter to WIN by simply clicking “SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS” below and let me know how I can best help you overcome guilt and condemnation, and if you want to join me in my quest to kick condemnation to the curb! #kc2tc
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Using powerful promises from God’s word, learn how to replace condemning statements you think with loving (and sometimes convicting) truths God wants you to know! Simply enter your email, confirm your sign up, and you’ll receive the download in your inbox this Friday, July 11th.
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Wow! What a tremendous blessing! I have struggled with this most of my life! I am determined to
overcome! Thank you for encouraging me to press through! Hope I’m a winner, but no matter, whoever is blessed to be the winner, will be highly favored by the Lord!
Any time things change in the slightest in my routine, usually a change that means more work for me… it throws me off and then I end up frustrated and my desire to keep working at what I am doing greatly diminishes. But almost as soon as I feel that way, the guilt kicks in for feeling that way and I spend the rest of the day beating myself up over all of it. I don’t know how to stop this process.
Thank you for your words of wisdom today. I find myself in the same situation full of peace one moment and the next it’s gone and the accuser has swept in. It happens a lot with the stresses of my job as a teacher. I am in constant prayer for strength, confidence, and patience. Your devotional sounds like a blessing. Thank you for always being willing to share and witness to the rest of us.
I struggle with condemnation all day long every day! Thanks for the clarification. It helps to help clear the mind of the condemning thoughts. Have a great day.
In my fear to let go of some things I have thought God wanted me to do, I tend to shut down…find a way to feel guilty…and my entire day is gone! I find myself being more critical of everything around me rather than trying to snap out of it. I appreciate the kitchen scene honesty! I can lose it in a flash and in my own head, satan will have me being the winner of the worst mom ever award. I have truly never thought about the difference in conviction and condemnation- but clearly I am confusing the two pretty well. I want to look for solutions the Holy Spirit is giving me in order to fix my feelings of guilt. Id love to read your advice in this book!
I recently went through a very embarrassing situation at work. I was at fault so I went into “rehab” with the Lord and just asked and thanked Him for His Grace and Mercies throughout this situation. I know I have been forgiven and he wants me to move on but each day is such a struggle to forget the shame, guilt and the replays of what has happened. At times I feel so persecuted not by anyone but by my thoughts, dreams and heavy with condemnation. This devotion really reminded me of the difference between condemnation and conviction. I will continue to try and fight these feelings as I continue to hold on to His promises for me and His unchanging hands.
As many, I too feel so inadequate of being the mom, wife and christian that the world says (expects) we as God’s children should be…… perfect. Thanks for t the simple reminder that we are not perfect and that’s ok. It came in God’s perfect timing. I am thankful for Proverbs 31 and your ministry. Blessings!
This devotional was truly a blessing. This is something I’ve struggled with, especially as a mom and a wife. I have never thought about the difference of conviction and condemnation but it definitely puts things into perspective for me. Thank you for your words of encouragement. I would love to win a copy of your book and thank you for the opportunity.
This is something I have dealt with all my life and I would love to win the resources.
After I finished the devotion and blog, I really was sown that I’ve allowed condemning lies into mind and heart.
I was able to specifically pray for a certain area in my life and ask forgiveness where needed and help where I’m struggling. Thank you so much for allowing God’s truth to shine through your words today. I never thought poo f things as you wrote but I’ve been allowing condemnation into my mind. With God’s help Satan’s lies will go and HIS truth and love will be in my heart and mind instead. I also will strive to be more in God’s predecessor that I can know the Holy Spirits voice more fully and not fall back into condemning myself and the things I do and say. Thank you for the chanceed to win and for the email with more insights. Blessings to you and those at P31 who share God’s truth!
I pray every day that I will hear God’s voice above all else. One of the ways I have been kicking condemnation to the curb is asking God to cleanse my mind of any lies or memory of lies the enemy has attempted to use to get me down. God’s love makes me feel like I did when I used to have first dates – but I get to have that feeling every day!!! I am still a work in progress but I know that through God’s word and amazing books and ministries like yours and Proverbs 31, that God is not finished with me yet!!! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win your books!!!
Needed this. Often feel guilty that I fall short as a wife, mom, friend… Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you, Renee, for always reminding me that even though I slip into condemnation, that is not where God wants me. It happens in the blind of an eye and it’s hard to erase or make up for. We can say sorry, but even that doesn’t always erase ALL the hurt. I read your book A Confident Heart, and I felt like you were talking about me. I cried right there in the Tim Horton coffee shop!God has truly worked in your life and blessed you. Thank you for sharing and encouraging us all with your heart-felt words. May God continue to bless you.
I guess all of us shared and still share the same experience. The trick is not feeling condemned but convicted.
I always try to make things right afterwords, but still feel condemnation. I guess I have a long way ahead of me for growing spiritually…
I have always struggled with condemnation of myself. Thank you for this devotion. God bless you and your ministry.
Renee I have been so blessed by your openness to share how God works in your life. Today’s devotion really hit home with me as I am trying to discern when satan is putting negative thoughts in my mind. I would love to have your free give away. All my life I have put myself down and had a low self-esteem and very little confidence. As I have gotten older and came to know the Lord HE is helping me through your words to know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that I don’t have to judge myself against others (which HE has shown me is a sin). I would be so blessed to have your devotional. Thank you for allowing God to use you in such a great ministry. God bless you.
Loved your devotional today! So needed to hear those words! It was such a clarification of how I have been struggling recently.
Thank you, Renee! Indeed, Satan will do anything for us to loose our peace. And with a little condemnation, we can spend a lot of days being miserable. The Lord, on the other hand, will always give us constructive conviction, help with love. And the process will even be a joy.
Thank you for sharing the knowledge that you have been given. I love the way you explain the difference between conviction and condemnation.
Knowing that difference elps us to keep the devils foot off our necks … And rob us of the joy that we have been given.
May your ministry be blessed.
I am struggling with several things right now and I also need God’s help with these situations. Thank you so much for your devotion and the give away I would love to have. Thank you.
I am so grateful for this devotional. Sometimes I feel condemned becausing of the disease (Multiple Sclerosis) I have. I know God can do anything but sometimes I get in depair wondering why wont he heal me. Maybe I’m not good enough or the plan for my life is not great enough or I’m not doing enough. It’s good to read this devotional to remind me God convicts and the enemy condemns. Thanks you so much. I pray & hope I win a Summer Devotional Gift Pack. I sure could use it and it would be a blessing. Continue to encourage everyone with your wisdom and devotionals. 1 Timothy 5:11
thank you for sharing this today! i struggle with condemnation and forgiving myself for past actions daily. I am trying to learn to listen to the right voice and tune out the wrong ones. God bless.
Your message was on time today! I am constantly trying to balance the obligations I have between being a wife and mother, my career, and church ministries. I feel guilty when I think I have fallen short in one or more areas. Thanks for reminding me that condemnation is not of God!
Renee,
Thank you for sharing these thoughts today! I have been learning to replace the wrong thoughts for a little while now. I’m trying to focus on scripture and I want to memorize verses to replace the lies that are swimming in my mind! Lately I’ve really been struggling with thoughts that I didn’t teach or do something right because of some choices of my adult children. I keep telling myself and my dear husband tells me also, that we cannot be responsible for their choices. I’m trying to give it all to The Lord because I know He has a plan for their lives and He is the only one who can truly change them and He loves them much more then even I do. Thank you!
I struggle with condemning thoughts about several people daily….I really need God’s conviction to help me solve these issues.
This is a struggle I have a lot. The guilty feelings are hard to discern.
Such an enlightening message! Would love to receive your materials as I travel this journey of overcoming condemnation and letting myself be truly convicted by God and the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for sharing the devotion today. It really resonates with me. For a long time I’ve struggled with the things I thought I was doing right or correctly but I really wasn’t. I couldn’t understand why? I thought something was wrong with me. After reading this devotion it makes sense and I just need to remember to let God talk to me and direct my words/actions. So again thank you for sharing.
I really needed this today! My job had me really down yesterday.. Just everything going wrong and the frustration of dealing with some people/issues had me in tears. Great to get positive encouragement to start a new day!
DAILY devotion and quiet time are critical for keeping condemnation down and conviction up.
It is always encouraging to be reminded of the difference between God’s correction and the enemy’s condemnation. I am in a weird place in my life right now where I need a breakthrough in my faith and trust in God. Often times I feel unworthy and allow doubts to prevent me from praying but I am determined to press on regardless. Thank you for these encouraging words!
Thank you so much for this devotional. I struggle daily with this. I have made some wrong choices in my life and I hear the voice of the devil, letting my know all my failures, ready to listen to the voice of my savior !!!
I love the devotions. The past two years have been rough for me. I cared for my sister who had Parkensins and breast cancer which spread to her liver, she was unable to walk due to a fall:(. She passed away in November. The devotions are what helped me through the long days and nights. It seemed like they were always right on time. Keep doing what you are doing, you are a true instrument of God. Blessings to you,
Karen
This is definitely a God timed devotional and post for me to read as I have been dealing with a difficult situation with my job and at times some equally difficult situations at home. Many times the enemy has come and whispered thoughts that leave me feeling sick to my stomach or in a near panic attack. Your words today have given me a practical way to look at this situation and others that may arise so that I don’t get bogged down in condemnation. I would really enjoy receiving other materials from you hat would help me and other women to walk in victory over condemning thoughts.
What a great devotion. I totally do that every day to myself. Thank you for helping me understand the difference! May God bless us all today!
Thank you for speaking on this subject. I have never heard or looked at my feelings with the perspective of condemnation vs conviction. I can see now how thenLordnhas shown me these areas to work on, but the devil uses these same areas of weakness to depress me and try to make me feel horrible and that change/improvement is impossible. Thank you for your words, they have truly been a blessing today and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for your devotional…I loved your practical teaching on the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of Satans attacks. As a mom of four young ones, it’s just what I needed to give me a boost this morning and to realize I need to listen to that still, small voice of encouragement instead of the loud, harsh voice that tears me down.
Such a good topic! I have struggled with condemnation and need to re-train myself to think about how that comes from satan. God wants to convict so I can change and He is always ready to forgive me – that is so comforting.
Thank you for the opportunity to win these incredible gifts.
Keep Writing!!
Your honesty is life saving to those of us struggling with many of the same issues. Just yesterday I was caught in a whirlwind of self-condemnation about my lack of focus in being organized and it all began by trying to get household tasks done while juggling the needs of my little ones. My condemnation about lack of organization turned into sel condemnation about being a failure as a mom once I lost my peace while trying to accomish my tasks. Your devotional today brought me to tears. I knew my thoughts were not from a living Heavenly Father, and your words are so true. I have to search for the truth in those moment when I allow my emotions to weaken my clarity and discernment. I just have to fall in my knees and call out to the only one who will provide life in moments that feel like the opposite of life. The Holy Spirit has nothing but love and encouragement and trusting that will usher us through the challenges of this season of life and many to come. I found myself tearfully thankful and praising His unfailing, long suffering love this morning. Thank you Renee.
I have to be very intentional to not listen to what I call the Satan tapes…he knows the ones to play that can cause me to doubt. Thank you for sharing these words today and to further remind me to focus on God’s convictions rather than Satan’s condemnation.
You are so welcome. Glad you are here Tina!
I really like this, so much power and meaning.
Love how God is speaking today to each of us!
Thank you for your post this morning! It was just what my heart needed. I constantly hear things in my head like “He deserves a better wife, they deserve a better mom, etc”. Now I know that is condemnation from the enemy and not conviction. The next time I hear those words, I will remember your phrase that condemnation focuses on the problem, conviction offers a solution.
Love that!! And can you see how much that condemnation paralyzes you from becoming more of the wife and mom your heart longs to be?? I think that is just what Satan wants. If he can get us stuck in the pit, we can’t become all God created us to be. No more, I say. Let’s kick condemnation to the curb together, and tap into the life-changing wisdom of conviction that leads to a solution!
Struggling with condemnation and having let the guilt touch so many parts of my life has become overwhelming at times. I look forward to learning and growing into finding the conviction and love God intended. It’s time I stopped letting the condemnation have a hold on my life and relationships.
Yes, it’s time Kalie!! Time for us all. I know we’re missing out on so much, so much of what jesus died to give us when we given into condemnation over grace. It was for freedom that HE set us free!! Let’s show Him how much we treasure His sacrifice by doing what it takes to kick condemnation to the curb!!
I needed this so much today! It spoke to me about situations with my husband, my kids, and also a coworker! I would very much love to win a packet & thank you for offering it to us! Bless you Renee and your ministry!
Thank {YOU} Jan for sharing how God used today’s devotion and post to encourage you, and how you shared it. He’s so good!!
So thankful for God’s conviction. So much more freeing then living under condemnation.
Amen! Me too!
Thank you for your message today. My mind gets so clogged with condemning thoughts knowing the start of them stems from Satan, but I didn’t realize the condemning myself after the thought was also from him. It is good to realize that it is not the Holy Spirit giving me guilt, he gives direction. To be able to identify this whole condemning process is Satan gives me freedom to ask the Spirit for direction and stop condemning myself!
Love hearing the insights and freedom you gained from today’s post. 🙂 Thank you for sharing Emily!
I am just here, lost, nearly bedridden. My house is a wreck, my kids are out of sync, my faith needs recharged. Your words with God’s are such a sweet blessing to me.
Praying for you Halona. You are loved and cherished by Your maker!! So glad He led you here today!
i can be having a great day, then I do or say something and my whole day seems to fall apart from the guilt I experience. Some things that are helpful to me are to stop and thank God for the opportunity to fix the things I just did that were out of line with his will. I can be an example to others by asking forgiveness and explaining what I did or said was not right. I think it’s an opportunity to reach out to other’s and show them grace and they can see God forgives not only me but them in the same situation.
I love your suggestions and the process you have found to help you, Amber!! It helps so much when I stop myself before I spiral into condemnation, and instead think through what happened and then process it with Jesus, leaning on HIs perspective instead of my own. Your steps are just exactly what He wants us to do. Thank you for sharing!
I am living …..struggling through …..with condemnation in my ear. I know Jesus loves me …..but, I have gained 30lbs, my house is in disarray, my homeschooling is behind. I need to break free of condemnation. I want to grow in grace and feel HIS love. I am looking forward to reading your blog.
I can relate to Donna’s statement above…gained weight, house never good enough, I”M never good enough seems to play in my mind before I get up and when I lie down. Jesus, free me from this condemnation and set me free to be who you made me to be. Thank you for your daily blog. I was reading John in my Bible, looked up Proverbs 31, and today’s verse was what I had just read! God is Good!
Hi Donna, I would LOVE to send you my free 5-day EMAIL devotional that I think would really encourage your heart in all that you are going through. Here’s a link to the page where you can sign up to receive it: http://reneeswope.com/aconfidentheart/7-day-doubt-diet/
I really appreciate this post. Your entire scenario (kitchen & all) could have been about me. Thank you for helping to remind me to look for the difference between condemnation & conviction. I definitely needed the reminder. I would absolutely love to win the give-away to help me KC2TC!!
Thank you Chasidy for making me feel normal by letting me know you act that way in your kitchen too! 🙂