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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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.