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!
I pray whomever receives this book will be blessed beyond measure. Thank you for your ministry and allowing the broken to find acceptance and wholeness.
I am my harshest critic. I aim for perfection. I rely on myself and I struggle with guilt. I am not living a grace filled life and I need Jesus. He is not my accuser. He lowers himself before me. Thank you Jesus! Please heal my heart ❤️
I was lead to your site this morning after reading the Proverbs 31 daily devotion written by you. Wow! God knew exactly what I needed this morning. I need God’s unfailing grace to get me through. Please pray for my current situations. I’m so thankful for our Lord’s mercy and grace.
Remember, refuse, replace. A much better “3 R’s” to use as an adult. Thank you.
Guilt is my second name. I’ve been feeling guilty most of my life. And although Jesus has healed me a lot, I guess I still have a long way ahead. Thank you for your words. God bless you.
This was my first time reading your blog and I enjoyed it.
I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for being so open and honest in your reaction. It made me laugh out loud and as I did so, years of doubt and shame evaporated! For decades I have been bound, unable and unwilling to seek God’s purpose for my life due to comparing myself to the Godly women He brought into my life causing me to slink away in shame because of my sins and failures as a wife and mother. Though I believe in His unconditional love, I reasoned that the consequence of my sin was to never be good enough for Him to use. For some reason, today is the day the truth has finally penetrated and freed me! Again, thank you for leaping from the Wonder Woman pedestal on to the real world with me.
It is difficult to replace the negative tapes that run in my head with positive statements. Satan knows he can get to me through guilt. I appreciated everything you said about how God will never give up on us and his grace and mercy are there for us. Thank you for these encouraging words.
This example in the bible always hurts to hear and read. I know Jesus forgives the adulterous woman, but where is the scripture for the woman’s family that she turned away from? Who has ever thought about the pain and devastation her acts caused? My husband of 16 years, the father of our 11 yr old daughter, was caught in adultery. After several lies and more weeks of lies, he finally admitted to 2 more affairs over the coarse of the previous year. We didn’t have a perfect Christian marriage, he walked away from his faith and every responsibility he had, other than his employment, and I had to figure out why he was so depressed and drinking all the time. I had to be the financial and faith filled leader of our family, bill payer, house cleaner, homework helper, all while working 6-7 days per week, 10 hour days. I was burnt out but had to keep going as he was no help. He has since repented and turned back to God, which is awesome and the best choice he’s made. But the pain and resentment that my daughter and I bear is overwhelming. She knows way too much about what he’s done. His confession was made outside of her bedroom and she was witness to his dramatic displays of emotion until he finally agreed to leave our house. My daughter went from a normal happy go lucky sweet innocent child, to a child full of rage and anger and revenge. She grew an obsession of knives and started hurting herself. We are all in counseling, we attend church and have bible studies with our church mentors, but the pain remains. While it is beautiful, the story of the forgiven adulterous sinner, there is another story not found in the bible about the families broken by this woman and her partners actions.
Constant doubting is a sin I have. I pray for Jesus’ perfect love and grace to cover my doubts with His mercy! Thank you!
P.S. You have a typo in this paragraph:
Step 1: Remember
Remember sin is not who you are; sin is what you do.
Although He knew she had sinned, Jesus made sure this woan knew her sin was not who she was. It was what she had done. Her sin didn’t get the final say. Jesus did.
This devotional is just what I needed today. I find such a hard time forgiving myself and breaking away from this sin in my life.
Those broad sweeping lies don’t come from others…they come from inside of my own head. I’m trying to replace the long worn ruts of those words with words of Gods forgiveness and grace. Things like,God wants to draw me away from destructive behaviors (like the lies in my head) so I can live the freedom of His forgiveness and the security of His love are important messages to me right now.
Praying for you Ashley!!
I have never considered that Jesus stooped before her. I wonder if their eyes met. What will it be like to look in His eyes? Oh! That thought overwhelms me to tears. How loving and tender He is. I do wish I could break free of the condemnation I carry. I know it isn’t real….but, I do carry it around.
Thank you for your time in writing this blog. You have blessed me today. Donna
Praying for you Donna. To be set free from condemnation in Jesus’ name, by the power of His redeeming blood shed on the cross for you. HE loves you sweet sister. He wants to look into your eyes today and speak grace over your heart so that healing can come!
Your words were exactly what I needed to hear today….a reminder of God’s promises that spoke to my heart. When I get discouraged, I easily go back to the “I’m not good enough, and never will be.”, and the sadness that goes with it. I needed reminded that God is stronger than anything that can happen in the world. I ordered your book, and would like this devotional to go with it. Blessings for sharing of yourself, and how God works.
Thank you for the replay of life – only substitute my name too many times. While longing to help others, I need to realize that God also meant it for me. What a wonderful reality and gift of grace and forgivenss. Thank you for sharing the truth God loves to have each one trust Him to fulfill.
This was just what I needed to hear today. I am in a new job where I have to do a lot of public speaking for a faith-based organization and I feel so unworthy most of the time. My personality is more of a behind the scenes type of person and I get nervous to speak in front of others and I feel like I am more of a distraction and the words that I say won’t get through to those I am speaking to. I know that the devil is working overtime in that department for me and these words were the encouragement that I needed to hear today as I gear up for a month of many speaking engagements. I know that God can use anyone, even me and that He will speak through me.
What a wonderful lesson today that I really needed. Thank You for the encouragement and uplifting that again reminded me He is forgiving and an ever present help and guide. God bless you for your open heart.
This message directly spoke to me one is your name is Renee and do is mine, and I received from this how your day to day multitasking can effect our personalities and cause us to doubt our strengths and our gifts, we can talk ourselves out of what we know is going to be okay but we still have fears and doubts
Like so many women have already said, i am so critical of myself and this
honest reminder of God’s grace is just what i needed to hear. Thank you to all the women who also shared their journey, my load seems lighter just knowing I’m not alone in this today! God Bless you all!
As a long time perfectionists your words spoke to me today. I am a retired nurse and a Healing Touch practitioner, so optimal health and God’s anointing energy are my passions but sometimes my agenda spoils the gentleness and unconditional love that we are commanded to give to all. I pray for the Prov 31 ministry often. The words from you beautiful women are a balm to me. We moved my 91 and 88 year old parents to our home two years ago and I think my mother would love your book. We never have enough teaching on GRACE. Bless you and your ministry.
Even if I don’t win this devo, I’m buying it. Seems to be exactly what I need and I’ve been looking for a study I can do independently. I’m just one guilt-induced defeated thought away from throwing in the towel. Of course, being in this spot, God won’t allow me to stay here. My son popped in his favorite Veggie Tale last night about perseverance. I had to laugh. And I had to commit to staying the course although I am weary and discouraged. Time to approach the throne of grace!
I really am not sure of what to write here as I ponder on what I read in the email devotional and what I just read here on the page. I am sitting here alone while my son is at school and my husband is at work, I have time to think and pray.
I feel conviction and hope. I feel convicted about the way I have been acting toward myself and my family, but I have been feeling this way for a while. I have let the guilt prohibit me from true repentance and seeking help from like-minded Christians. But there is hope because this message and the bible verses included tell me that there is no reason I should be sitting in guilt. I can move forward, constantly consult God, and do what I can the best that I can with the strength given to me.
I would like to win this book. However, it is more important that someone knows that they aren’t alone and I hope that I am speaking a language or even dialect that someone can understand and turn towards Christ.
Thank you for this devotional.
Thank you Renee for your honesty and insight. God has blessed you with a wonderful, genuineness, approachability in your teaching! It is an encouragement to all who listen or read your messages.
Thanking God for you and p 31 ministries.
Boy did I need this! What it helped to remind me of in my constant battle against the enemies jabs of self doubt, etc… Is that my God is bigger & that His grace is sufficient! As long as I confess & repent of my sins & try to be the best mother, wife & woman that I can be, He will take care of the rest!! I just have to let go & let God, & not let it bother me! When God forgives me, he forgets, so I must also forgive myself & let it go for good… But sometimes that’s the hardest part for me! I also have to remember that fear & doubt are from the enemy, but confidence, grace & peace are from God! Thank you again for reminding me of this!!!!!
Thank you Renee for your honesty and insight. God has blessed you with a wonderful, genuineness, approachable to in your teaching! It is an encouragement to all who listen or read your messages.
Thanking God for you and p 31 ministries.
Wow I think we have all been at this place, but God gives us the Grace to get through it.
Loved this message
As I continue to step out in serving in our local church and am hard on myself for not ‘having it together’, I thank you for your story in your devotional this morning that reminds me that NONE of us have it perfectly together all of the time. We all need grace, continually. Both for ourselves, and for one another. Thank you.
I have always been challenged with defeating thoughts, I overcome at times but it is the consistency that I need to stay above it. I believe this book with the scripture cards will help
me tremendously. There are days like
you had where I do just give up and want to go back to bed or give up.
I can help others better but not myself
This devotional helped me. I fall into this trap and sometimes just can’t get out. I get so down and depressed that I just don’t smile or even talk anymore.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful reminder of God’s grace! I’m praising Him this morning that His mercies are new every day! Oh how I need Your grace! Jesus, I come!
Thank you for this encouragement. I have always loved this bible passage – such a clear demonstration of God’s grace! But so easy to forget.
I found your comment about picturing Jesus particularly helpful. I often feel condemned, and this is a great tip to refocus on the truth, and be open to conviction rather than generalised condemnation. Thank you.
I love that you don’t just ask for a common but that you say you’ll pray for me! I feel like I need lots of prayers in this area. I’m not confident person, and lately I feel like a failure as a wife and mother. I try to rest in God’s truth but I screw up every day. I’m struggling to see how God can use me in my family, let alone in his kingdom.
Oops. It sent before I was done. Thank you for your words of encouragement. They were very timely today.
First and foremost, Thank U!!!!, I have been waddling on the brink of guilt, my only child was murdered and I felt like I was unable to protect nor save him from the elements. It has been 14 yrs, then my mom’s demise 12 weeks later after his death. I am in constant thought, was I a good enough mom and a good enough daughter to my mom. However thru meditation, medication and articles such as this, I realize, I am not in control of the calling. I have finally come to the realization, it is ok, to have my moments and meltdowns!!! Thank U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow guilt. It can eat me up if I let it. I find the more I read God’s word the more I know that His grace is sufficient even when it seems like there’s no way out. Thanks for the story. It definitely helps when others can share. This is not an isolated race but we’re in this together.
I really need this book. I suffer from anxiety/depression so I’m in a constant battle with my thoughts and feelings to continue to live in God’s Grace. Thank you Jesus for your loving grace as I would probably not even be here without it. Literally. Thank you.
Thank you for this timely devotional Renee!
I struggle with believing I am in some sort of sin at any given time, I will pray and confess and ask God to reveal to me what I am in need of confessing. It is most always so generalized and I feel as if God turns away or shuts himself away from me. I will even think, well why would I expect different I am so sinful and so unworthy! You can imagine what this does for my day to day life. I do read His Word along with study in it. I go to church to hear His word and fellowship weekly. I really needed this today ! Thank you !
I love the sound of Grace-infused confidence. So often I am wallowing in my guilt induced doubt and destruction that I fear I miss God’s awesome grace to find rest and freedom in the name of Jesus. Thank you for this post. I’m going to think about what Jesus was writing and what words he crosses out that I say about myself, and the beautiful words he replaces them with. 🙂
This was right on time for me today. I really needed to read this devotion. I do not believe it was by chance, but it was God’s way of reminding me of His grace. I am in a season of guilt induced doubt and sometimes it drains me leaving me spiritually weak. This was a refreshing that I needed today.
Guilt and doubt have kept me from fully leaning into the love of Christ for a very long time. I’ve been praying for the ability to love better, and realized my lack of love for myself is an obstacle. The fear and doubt have had me chained. Thank you for giving me a new piece of insight on which to build a foundation. I KNOW God loves me! I need to live free of the Evil One’s constant whispers and schemes. So in the name of Jesus, I rebuke the enemy and bind him up to be free. He has no hold, no claim on me. I’m God’s girl.
I get so caught up in the bad behavors that I lose sight of God. I feel guilt for everything and especially being a mom and wife. This devontion was great for me today. Thank you!
I felt God speaking to me through today’s devotion. I’m having major problems with my 17 year old stepson. I have a special needs high functioning young adult and my stepson says he doesn’t like him 🙁 Not because he’s my son, but my son is such a kindhearted, loving & outgoing person. Everyone, except my stepson & his mom, absolutely love him. I have prayed and prayed and prayed some more and I have a very hard time talking to him. I feel so bad when we have him for our weekend and I can’t seem to talk to him 🙁 When he leaves I feel bad that I didn’t talk to him.
Thank you for sharing the 3 “R’s” as a simple way to remind us how to replace our guilt with His grace.
Thank you Renee for this devotional. I so appreciated your book “A Confident Heart” and would love to read the accompanying devotions book. I identify with self-doubt in my work, friendships, and marriage. I am so blessed by a loving husband and friends, but still feel so inadequate. Thank you for sharing your heart and the Word.
I know all too well about guilt induced doubt. It has haunted me for most of my life. It is God’s unfailing love and compassion that is motivating me to depend on and trust in Him to keep me.
This email and devotion is so timely- God is so good! I have been praying for my daughter, who wrestles with self-doubt, and I see this devotion! After pouring through it, I saw the devotion and book, and I immediately wondered if it would be a practical way to apply God’s Word to her thoughts. Thanks for sharing it with us!
I certainly need to know how to let go of guilt and let grace have it’s perfect work.
My husband is great at pointing out my failures. I realized this morning that I’ve been buying into what he says instead of accepting the grace God gives me. Are there things I need to work on? Absolutely! But I need to get away from the guilt so that I can clearly see my sins.
In the middle of the recovery program that I just recently attended a BIG news broke into me. At first I really didn’t know how I could start again since at that time I’m still recovering from my depression. However, as the program progressed, slowly God speaks to me that everything is gonna be fine and He will use my condition to be my ministry.
After the program I asked myself how I could inspire others through the pain and misery that I experienced. How could God use me despite all the mess I’ve done. I felt I am weak, unworthy, with little faith. But last Sunday God clearly spoke to me through the message on that day that says “When God calls, He qualifies”.
I have always doubt my faith, my capability to share His words or to testify what God had done to me. But I forgot that it’s not about me. It’s about Him. The question is not if I CAN, because He CAN, and when the time He calls me, I know that He will definitely give me the necessary skills and knowledge to do my job.
Your story inspires me to pursue God’s will instead of focusing to myself. Thank you for sharing.
When I have one of those days like you described, I feel exactly same way- at first irritated to the point that ‘no, I do not want to control it’, and then later when I am calm again I feel guilty because a true child of God should not experience such emotions and thoughts. But then next time a similar situation comes around, I just dont feel that being timid and calm would just do it for me, so I go thru a roller-coaster of emotions again. I would like to stop doing that, but I am convinced that those who are close to me and who dont bother do adjust their behaviour one bit to minimize the likelihood for blow-outs are not cooperating, it makes it really hard and makes me feel stuck. 🙂 Ufff, I am such work in in progress….
I went to bed last night stressed and overwhelmed by all the projects i didn’t get done this weekend. I woke up with then still looming over my head.
The devotion today helps start my day with a sense of peace and encouragement to let go of guilt for not getting it all done.