Welcome Encouragement for Today friends! I’m so glad you hopped over after reading my devotion! I’ll explain in just a minute how to enter today’s giveaway. But first I want to share 3 ways we can replace our guilt-induced doubt with grace-infused confidence pulled from Day 12 of my “60-Days to Stop Doubting Yourself Confident Heart Devotional“:
“She never thought anyone would find out about their affair, but now her secret and her sin would be public.
Just as the people gathered in the temple, surrounding Jesus as he sat down to teach them, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had be caught in the act of adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus,
“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.” (John 8:2–6)
They hoped Jesus would condemn her, but the opposite happened.
Instead of lording over her, Jesus lowered Himself before her. Grace knelt down to write on the ground. {tweet this?}
“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (vv. 6–8)
The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus wrote but I’ve always wondered if it was the Ten Commandments, since her accusers said Moses’s law commanded them to stone her. Plus, after writing, Jesus challenged them to examine their own sins and see if any of them were without fault.
When Jesus stooped down to write a second time, perhaps He wrote over the law with redemption. Could it be that He covered the commandments with words like grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Scripture doesn’t say. But we do know that something radical happened. Everyone dropped their stones and walked away.
“At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (vv. 9–11)
In my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion today, I shared about a time when I really blew it and guilt convinced me I was no longer qualified for my calling. But God used my friend and spiritual mentor/mom, MaryAnn Ruff, to show me what the redemption of God’s grace looks like. And ever since that day, Jesus has been teaching me how to replace my guilt-induced doubt with His grace-infused confidence.
3 Ways to Replace Guilt-Induced Doubt with God’s Grace-Infused Confidence
Remember: Remember sin is not who you are; sin is what you do.
Although Jesus knew this woman had sinned, He made sure she and the crowd knew her sin was not who she was. It was what she had done.
Her sin didn’t get the final say. Jesus did.
Refuse: Refuse condemnation, but lean into loving conviction.
They hoped Jesus would condemn the woman, but the opposite happened. Instead of lording over her, Jesus lowered Himself before her.
When you fall into a trap of the Accuser (Rev. 12:10), close your eyes and picture Jesus – the person of Grace – kneeling down before you, looking into your eyes and loving you out of your sin.
Ask Jesus to help you recognize condemnation’s accusing statements like “You’re a failure” or “You can never be counted on.”Refuse to listen to his lies. Instead lean into God’s loving conviction that is specific. Instead of a broad, sweeping you-are-a-loser label, Jesus will point out our sin and show us what to do to right the wrong.
Instead of “You’re such a failure,” God might say: You were critical in the way you talked to _________ . You need to say you’re sorry and ask forgiveness. Then tell _____ something to build them up.
Replace: Replace the guilt of sin with God’s redemptive grace.
In the presence of Jesus, the woman’s accusers walked away. He dismissed them one by one, until He was the only one left standing. He replaced their position of authority. He was the only One left speaking into her life.
Jesus help me replace my guilt-induced doubt with God’s grace-infused confidence. @ReneeSwope {click to TWEET}
God’s grace lures us out of darkness; His kindness leads our hearts to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
He wants to draw us away from destructive behaviors that hinder our relationship with Him and others, so we can live in the freedom of His forgiveness and the security of His love.
Lord, You say there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and my life is hidden in You. Thank You that because of Your love and grace, my sin never gets the final say about me—You do! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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I am having one of those guilt ridden days today. I know grace is given to us by Christ; I’m praying for me to learn to accept and embrace His grace.
This was just what I needed! I had my own episode over the weekend and found myself doubting my ability to be good wife, Mother, and follower of Jesus! How can I lose myself like I do and He still believe in me?! But His grace is the reason…thank you for this…it came at the perfect time!
Renee, thank you for your transparency. Believers need to see that we all struggle and are not perfect but we have one who is and he offers us perfect grace and mercy. I could so relate to your devotional. Been there and then satan uses it to condemn and try to cripple us from working for the kingdom. Would love to read more of your devotions!
Thank you I needed to hear this today in regards to my spouses very poor choices and his continuation in not digging into those choices.
I am constantly struggling with doubt and condemning thoughts. I am in ministry and between that and being momma to my four kiddos I certainly have a lot of condemning feelings and thoughts. God has really been showing me that I need to focus on the difference between the condemnation from the enemy and true conviction from Him. When I am so down on my self, I really try and remember that God loves me and I am not always going to do everything perfectly. I am not superwoman (although sometimes I try to be) and I have to be ok with not always being perfect with everything.
This the third time I have tried to finished my message. The first time I was in a cancer clinic waiting for my husband while he was getting a radiation treatment. He finished his treatment before I finished my response.
Sorry if you get a double message. Most of the time if I just close my tablet it is saved.
I read your message under encouraging text for today. It was very helpful because I still feel guilty when I get mad I sin with words out of my mouth. Afterwards I pray for forgiveness but I often still feel guilt instead of forgiveness because of the grace of God. I don’t act out this sin very much but I do it before I even think of
another way to get my feelings across. I know the I am a child of God and because of grace I shouldn’t feel so guilty but I do’. I think your book will help me to be better to learn to accept God”s grace and change my
behavior because I have been forgiven and think of that before words are said.
Well at this moment, I am getting accused of something I didn’t do. The rumor is that I’m trying to steal and sleep with one of my relative’s husband. I’m just can’t believe that. This is the story that I was thinking about how Jesus forgive the adultress. But as for me, I didn’t do anything and not even think like that about this person. But like the bible says the truth shall set you free. It made me mad but I just have to be still. Please keep me in prayer.
Thank you for your devotion. Stress in life tends to make me feel inadequate and even sometimes feel cranky with those around me. I want to continue focusing on God’s mercy and grace, I want to spend more time realizing that God is in control of my life and all I need is to allow his mercy and grace to carry me through each day. I would love a copy of your devotional to continue to stay focused on God.
Yesterday evening I learned something about my teenager that really upset me, more than upset me…it made me furious! My words spewed out like knives at my son, I could see it in his eyes and facial expressions but I couldn’t stop. When I finally did stop, I felt horrible and more negative emotions followed. After taking away all his electronics and grounding him, I went to wash dishes. As I was washing dishes a huge knot grew in my throat as my condemning, horrifying words echoed in my head along with flashes of images of my teenagers facial expressions. I felt like I was suffocating, I wanted to cry and scream and then I started to condemn myself….I was a horrible mother, a failure, a disappointment, what kind of mother uses those kinds of words to their own son?!?! I left my house to clear my head talk about my horrific actions to my neighbor, just to get it out of my system, I cried and felt so guilty. She agreed that my words were not the best choice but his punishment was just. She also said that it was never a good idea to be prideful, especially to your children. After clearing my head, something was nudging my heart to go back and apologize…as I went back to the house, my teenager approached me and from the look on his face he was feeling like I was. He started with apologizing to me for what he had done, he recognized his wrong doing and accepted and understood the consequences of his actions. He continued telling me that he loves me and that he doesn’t like when I get after him. My heart sunk…after the harsh verbiage I had used towards him he still made sure that I knew that he loves me! The holy spirit was working in both of us at the same time! I forgave him and I also asked him for forgiveness for the poor choice of words that I used. His innocent eyes stared into mine as I was struggling to keep mu composure, but I couldn’t….I cried. My youngest heard me cry and he came to hug me.
One of the main things I pray for is to be a godly mother, one with wisdom, love and knows how to balance love and discipline. Although, apologies were exchanged and forgiveness was accepted, of course being me, I was haunted by my words and my sons’ facial expressions as I was laying in my bed…it was a rough night. This morning I woke with the mission of reading my devotional, some scriptures, some Unveiled wife and Proverbs31.org and here it was, plain as day….what Our Father God knew that I needed to read, see and reflect….I prayed and I felt a relief, I forgave myself and just like my teenager, I learned the mistake I made and will try and make a better choice in the future whenever I come up against something like this again. Thank you for your encouraging words and for taking the time to go deeper and writing about “Replacing Guilt with Grace”.
I have been going thru a tough patch for the past several weeks, one reason I happened onto the Proverbs31.org website. It must be apparent on my face, in my voice, and in all my actions because everyone is asking about what I have going on that has me so down. I have just continued to call out to GOD thru this and I know HE is here for me, I just need to wait….
Our Sunday School study was on John 8 and this was another view of God’ mercy and grace. In today’s world we all need to love as Jesus loves and forgives because we are all sinners.
Thank you for your for giving your time to give food for thought.
Thank you for this devotion and for the chance to win. I am so thankful that sin does not have to leave us defeated. Christ has conquered sin’s power and covers it in His grace. What a comfort to know. I can move forward today and everyday because I am forgiven and God is for me.
Thank you for thus devotion from one who was feeling I can never get it right … take one godly step forward, and two guilt-induced steps backwards. Going to try it again depending on His grace.
~Mo
Just this morning I had a talk with my husband and how insecure and guilt ridden I’ve felt lately about if I’m doing the best for the kids, doing ENOUGH for them, etc… This came start perfect time!!
Thank you for this wonderful devotion today. It fed me the word of god and was exactly what I needed to hear today. Very profound and will stick with me. I struggle with the feeling like I am not good enough cause I sin like every human being; got to realize we are not perfect only God is and we have to strive to be like him but there will be times we fall short.
Always feel like im not good enough…this is a reminder Gods grace is always sufficient.
Thank you so much for this devotional! I’ve been struggling with the past and guilt for over a year. It’s a daily struggle and I need the reminder everyday, that Jesus loves me and forgives and wants to help me move forward. I can’t worry about what people think and let the guilt consume me and give up. God has a plan for me still and I need to follow His plan.
I am constantly doubting myself as a Mom. When my kids tell me “I’m I bad person”, I replace it with “No, you did something bad but you are still a great person. We all make mistakes.” However, I am not so forgiving with myself. I need to remember God’s grace. Perfection is not existent. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
“Refuse condemnation, but lean into loving conviction.” Love, love, love this as it is something I struggle with. Jesus doesn’t condemn us with sweeping statements about how we don’t measure up but lovingly points out specific sin! Thank you so much for the reminder this morning of how much God loves me and how his grace covers me!
All I can say is WOW! This is just the encouragement I needed to begin my week.
This past week was not a great one for me, but it’s lovely to know that God extends his grace, mercy and forgiveness to me as well as blessing me with another week to get things right.
Thank you for this!