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.
ENTER TO WIN: A Confident Heart Devotional GIVEAWAY
Enter to win my A Confident Heart Devotional book and a set of scripture promise cards. Filled with powerful stories, practical life-lessons and biblical insights to help you and your loved ones overcome fear and worry through the power of God’s truth each day!
Click “Share Your Thoughts” below to share how today’s devotion or post spoke to your heart. Your comment will be your entry to win!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thank you for sharing what you have gone through and showing that we’re not beyond grace and forgiveness. I’m guilty in allowing my confidence to be shaken, rattled, and even broken lately. Even to the point I’m not sure how to start over again. You’re devotion was very helpful today. Thank you!
Thank you Renee,
I so needed this. As this weekend 09/27 I confessed my affair from last year to my husband. It has been REALLY REALLY HARD THIS PAST WEEK. Really long night of talking and crying and some yelling has happened. A lot of confusion of He can handle this then he can’t handle it and a lot of hard questions about it that I just want to forget and never remember. but He is also been loving in some instances and hugging me and it’s really just been a rollercoaster this last week and I felt condemned everytime we talk about it, but I’m so thankful for this and you reminding me of God’s grace. We have really been talking and praying to God this last week to keep up us. I would ask for LOTS OF PRAYERS that my husband and I with our 2 sons are able to heal from this horrible sin I have committed. We know we need our hearts to be made knew and restoration and I pray it comes sooner than later. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THIS POST! I THANK THE YESHUA FOR SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR ME AND MY SINS AND BY HIS GRACE I’M SAVED AND I KNOW “THAT GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”
This was really encouraging! I’d love to win a copy of the book!
Im sitting in thr church parking lot… discouraged and with all sorts of feelings todaya message addressed…and I chose to read my emails and …..what. a Blessing to find this one in here… please add me and my family to your prayer list if you serve and love King Jesus….
Im not sure where I put my entey in to try to win the devotional…if this is the wrong place…please let me know
I Thank you
Thank you for this. I get so busy looking at my circumstances and situation and pain that I forget to look at God and the guilt and condemnation can be blinding. It’s comforting to know that He sees the us he created us to be and not the us we believe ourselves to be. I really needed this reminder of grace and redemption.
For many years I struggled with feeling condemned when I’m convicted about something. At first I thought it was all the enemy’s condemnation, but I couldn’t get rid of it. (I was trying to get rid of a legalistic past when I thought that condemnation was the Lords conviction).Then I realized that when the Lord convicted me, then the enemy would come in and confuse me with extreme feelings of guilt, so I couldn’t actually hear the Lord. Now I’ve been recognizing the difference and feel so much more peace as I repent of my sins and refuse to listen to the lies. “Refuse condemnation but lean into conviction”. Thank you, you clarified that more for me! And I love the picture that Jesus bends His knee to look us in the eye when we have sinned.
He wants to draw us away from destructive behaviors how awesome is that gods grace is so wonderful I was raised in church and my parents are ministers but as I i have entered adult hood I’m learning so much more and being blessed behind measure
This devotional is just what I needed today. Thank you.
I have to constantly fight Satan’s nagging thoughts in my brain. Condemning me for things that I’ve done . I love that we can turn it over to Jesus – call Satan the liar that he is and fall into the grace that Jesus provides
Lord, I continue to do things to make up for my past sins – knowing this is not the way. I know you have forgiven my sins and I say I trust in You. Cloak me with Your love, words, and truth – let them overpower my heart and mind;. Give me the strength to overcome the Devil’s lies and attempts to downplay Your love and forgiveness.
One of the things I ask myself is “are my thoughts to myself or others displaying the Fruit of the Spirit?” If it is not I change my line of thinking. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Oh Renee, your words are always so very helpful. I tremendously enjoy and need your ministry! I pray that God continues to help you guide.
I had a child from an affair and had felt/still feel tremendous shame about it. So much that even though my husband wanted to work through it and move on, I did not think it was possible because of what I had done. Only when I share about it with others, I feel better. The secret loses its power over me. Praise God for the Grace He has shown me.
I hope i not too late to enter. This was a wonderful devotion and spot on what i needed to hear today!! Thank you.
Am in a near-constant battle with my 16 year old daughter’s bad choices and my husband’s (her dad) non reaction. Am praying it helps her to hear “sin is not who you are, it’s what you do.” Navigating the teen years is a HUGE challenge in today’s world…for teens AND their parents. I don’t know where we’d be without God’s grace.
Thank you so much for the reminder about forgiveness. It is so difficult to get through the day when I am weighed down by guilt, sometimes even guilt about something that happened a long time ago. I am so thankful for a Savior who can see through the sin and still love the person inside. Thank you for the reminder and inspiration that God can use people like me to serve His purpose.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AN INSPIRATIONTO ALL OF US AND FOR LETTING US KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE.
Perfect to read this devotion and receive today. Thank you! “When we confess our wrong thoughts, words and actions and receive God’s forgiveness, we can replace guilt-induced doubt with His grace-infused confidence”.
Very timely reminder. We need to make sure our helmet of salvation is on to keep the enemy’s lies out! Along with all the other pieces of armor in Ephesians 6.
“The Accuser.” How often have I taken his lies, internalized them, and repeated them to myself as truth. Such a good reminder that I have an enemy who is trying to convince me that my guilt is too great and I will never heal from the lies I’ve believed. Thank you Jesus for the truth of your conviction! Help me to refuse the condemnation and empower me to change!