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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Wow! The wondrous way that God works! This is exactly the message I needed today. I live in such self administered agony because I believe I deserve only punishment for my sins believing that my sin is worse than everyone else. I doubt that even I can be forgiven & saved because I am THAT BAD.
Lord, I do believe, and I pray that you are with me and guide me through that shadow of doubt & unbelief. Thank you for your grace & mercy. Amen.
Following a long year of some really BIG mistakes and yet still being called by God to share His Word I cannot express how much these words mean to me……”when you fall into the trap of condemnation, 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”. My heart is aching and crying this moment over these beautifully timed words. Thank you for sharing!!!
Thank you so much for your honesty! It’s so refreshing to know that the things you write about are still life struggles God is continually working on within you. When I read P31’s devotionals, I am uplifted, encouraged and strengthened. However, I also tend to doubt myself, thinking that maybe I’m missing something. It seems as though the writers “have it all together” and the enemy uses it against me. Knowing that we’re all in the same life struggles together is reassuring. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. It is so easy to allow Satan to convince me I am the only one that fails at times. Thank you for your honesty and sharing!
God uses the messes in my life to speak to me. He blesses me by reminding me of how parents love their children through the messes. God loves me through my messes, wants to help guide me through and see me learrn through the choices I make. To think that I am surrounded and covered by his wing gives me confidence – grace infused confidence – to make the next step each day, each hour, each minute. 1 John 3:1
Thank you so much for sharing. It spoke to me and yes His grace is sufficient. We don’t have to perform to be accepted by Him, we just need to believe that His grace is sufficient for us.
Thanks for words of encouragement. Seems like the hardest person to forgive is myself. I have to remember that God’s grace applies to me as well . . .even, especially after those moments when we feel we’ve blown it.
“When you fall into the trap of condemnation, 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.” LOVE THIS!! We can’t do it without Him. And he doesn’t even want us to- that is grace at its finest!!
I really needed this reminder today. Thank you for your willingness to be so open.
Exactly what I needed. I’ve prayed 2 months for forgiveness and strength to get keep fighting the good fight against my sin. I need to let it go and accept that I am forgiven. My chains safe gone. The Lord will continue to provide my strength. Thank you for this devo!
After a doubt filled week of struggles, thank this was what I needed. How great and awesome is God. God bless
I know God has forgiven me for things in the past, but I have allowed Satan to bring those things up over and over, robbing me of joy and peace. The past week God has shown me, through many different people and scripture, that I AM forgiven, and I need to live in His grace, not my doubt! Thank you so much for one more “confirmation” and may He continue to bless your ministry. (And thank you for being honest!)
Thank you for sharing this. The three steps are very practical and easy to remember since they are all “R”s. The one that resonated most with me is “sin isn’t who you are, it’s what you do.” I needed that reminder. I often feel so much shame because of sin. Thank you, Lord for Your forgiveness, mercy and grace.
Wonderful and timely post. I can’t count how many times I’ve blown it in a similar way. I like that you point out that just because you still blow it, doesn’t mean you can’t still minister to others. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Renee, I had read this devotion previously and was amazed to see it this morning, on a day when it seemed written just for me! Thank you for sharing your heart. I cannot tell you how timely this was for me today. God meets our needs and answers the cries of our hearts in such mysterious ways, doesn’t He? God bless you, my sweet friend!
Such a great post. I can use a daily reminder of Gods grace and how we are to show grace to others. Thank you.
I have really been battling with the fact that I have failed at so much in my life and that the hits just keep coming.. God has blessed me but it seems I fail him and my confidence us shaken so much… I truly want to go forward in him and not backward
Is it really possible?? I live with this thinking on a daily basis! Would love the devo to help battle this. Thanks for your godly and humble attitude.
Tomorrow is my birthday and so much progression in one year! Lord I will continue to decrease my faults and increase my knowledge in YOU
I needed to hear this truth. I have messed up so much lately and returned to sinful habits and patterns that I thought were broken. I thought I had these things under control, but I have realized that I need more of God’s grace and mercy than I could ever imagine. I have underestimated my weakness and His strength. Thank you for reminding me to just lean into Him and allow His love and grace and strength to wash over me.