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 mess up daily but thank you God that your grace and mercy are new every morning! Thank you for sharing your ‘real life’ story.
Thank you for showing that God was preparing your lesson in the messy moments! This helped me tons today.
Need a reminder to lean on Gods grace and conviction rather than Satan’s lies and condemnation.
This is why the women of Proverbs 31 make an impact in MY life. I too use a few “Beeps” if I get frustrated and
mad. I call that “Unpacking my adjectives” It is so reassuring to me that I am not the only Christian woman to lose it, not acting like the syrupy sweet Christian that I think everyone else thinks we should be. I hate when I act out of control but confessing my sin to God, my family and receiving their forgiveness is a burden lifted.
The devotion this morning was written for me, after the kind of weekend I had! It definitely touched my soul. Thank you for writing.
Thanks for being so honest in sharing your story. Often the guilt if what I do wrong steals my joy. I would love to be encouraged by this devotional book.
I so identify with the story! I get full of myself easily & just know I can do it all so perfectly & my husband can’t even come close. I hate that in my & I get full of guilt.
Thank you for writing the book – can’t wait to read it!
This devotion spoke to my heart because I’m horrible for letting the guilt of my short comings yet Jesus has better plans and better thoughts and enough grace to cover me.
I too am struggling with guilt from time to time. I have very good days of ‘feeling forgiven’, signs from God that it is okay today and encouraging words from strangers/friends who can see the despair in my eyes. However, I am not ‘out of the woods ‘ yet. So this article was still another reminder of God’s mercy and grace. It touched my heart and soul and I am grateful to you for sharing. Knowing that I/we are not alone is comforting.
I have been struggling a lot lately with guilt over not being good enough – not being a good enough wife, not being a good enough mother. But this devotion reminded me of what I already know but easily forget. God’s grace is enough. God’s grace is perfect so that I don’t have to be.
Needed this today. Thank you for sharing your heart and being real!
I have to say that the verse in which the woman is accused is a wonderful reminder of how those around us are quick to jump to conclusions and are ready to convict us as well as judge us for our mistakes, although she was caught in the act I have often wondered what about the man she was with was he not also guilty? Where were his accusers? Why was he not also brought to be judged? I know these are questions that we may never have an answer to or this is exactly how it was supposed to be for Jesus to show her and them compassion, love, and forgiveness. I love this verse and can take this and change how I allow others to judge me and just do as He did, love them anyway, pray for them anyway, and not be so quick to judge them or myself for my sins. We all sin and fall short daily and instead of condemning each other we should be helping each other by praying for each other, trying to be there with love and compassion and an understanding that as long as we are on this earth we are not nor will we ever be perfect in any sense of the word. Thank you so much for sharing this and your story to remind us that even teachers, leaders and those in the spotlight for God mess up because again we are human and on this earth. Have a blessed day and I pray God continues to bless you and your work for him.
Thank you for your transparency and for the reminder of the truth that Jesus is the King of my heart.
I love the phrase “grace-infused confidence”. I have always struggled with guilt, sometimes even if I’m not in the wrong. God has recently freed me from taking on others’ guilt and reminded me that my confidence relies solely in Him! This was a perfect reminder.
I need to be free of the constant guilt that plagues me about everything I am doing or not doing.
Thank you for sharing God’s grace and love.
Oh thank you so much for this. I feel this was me this weekend. Thank you for reminding me we are all loved and forgiven through grace. And because of that grace and love we too can give/offer to others with the help and love of Jesus. Thank you God for forgiving and loving me! God bless you ~
Thank you for this reminder of God’s grace. May I remember always that just as God does not condemn me when I blow it, that I too must be careful not to put others under condemnation when they blow. May I extend that same gentle grace to others as well.
This post was very timely and written for me. I have gone through a situation where I have had to extend grace and forgiveness to someone who could care less about me. I did it because it was a requirement that God gave me. It was a hard thing to do but I imagine Jesus had a great deal of hard things to do and he didn’t complain. Thank you God for your forgiving grace and mercy in my life.
Guilt is one of the main things we feel that keeps us from truly experiencing true freedom in Christ. Sometimes I feel so unworthy of His grace. I know that I’m a work in progress. I won’t be perfect till I get to heaven.