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 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.