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Sometimes I wonder how I can go from being in such a good place with God … feeling peaceful, loving and patient.. but then something happens that sends me into an orbit of aggravation!!
It happened just the other day…
Things were going well. I’d had a lovely afternoon working from home. Alone. Life was peachy.
But then school got out and kids came home. Within 15 minutes of arrival, one of my boys did something and said something that wasn’t so peachy. Then he did NOT do something I’d asked him to do and let’s just say… I lost all my peace and patience right there in the middle of my kitchen.
I was not happy.at.all. And I let my precious boy know it in a not-so-nice kind of way.
Then I felt GUILTY and like the WORST MOM on the planet.
For a few minutes I was pretty sure that’s exactly how God wanted me to feel ~ so I wouldn’t act so ugly the next time.
But finally, after I’d almost convinced myself that I was the worst mom and had no business in ministry, I remembered something a pastor said about the difference between conviction and condemnation. He explained it like this:
Condemnation sweeps across our thoughts with generalized statements such as, You’re such a failure, You’re so hypocritical, or You can never be counted on. That is the accuser. His tone is condemning, questioning, and confusing. His accusations lead to guilt and shame.
But the Holy Spirit’s conviction will be specific. He will reveal a sinful action or attitude and instruct us on what we need to do to right the wrong: whether it’s restoring a broken relationship or returning something that isn’t ours. He’ll give us steps we need to take to change our behavior or attitude.
• Instead of You’re such a failure as a [wife, mom, daughter, friend], the Spirit might say, You were really critical the way you talked to _________ (your husband, child, parent, etc). You need to say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness. Then tell them something that will build them up instead of tearing them down.
• Instead of You’re so hypocritical, the Spirit might say, You judge others for gossiping, but you are doing the same thing when you talk about your neighbor at work. Tomorrow at lunch break, apologize for what you said and share a few things that are positive about her.
• Instead of You can never be counted on, the Spirit might say, You didn’t keep your promise to go see your mom today. Call her to apologize and maybe set up a lunch date for this weekend.
Satan condemns accusingly, to make us feel guilty. God convicts lovingly, to lead our hearts to repentance. {tweet this?}
Jesus’ convictios draws us away from destructive behavior that hinders our relationship with Him and with others. His goal is to bring us out of the darkness of sin and back into the Light, so we can walk with Him in the freedom of forgiveness and the confidence of His love.
The next time we blow it or lose it, let’s ask Jesus to replace our guilt-induced doubt with HIS grace-infused confidence, as we hold onto the promise that His grace is sufficient because His power is made perfect in our weakness.
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Based on honest struggles we all have with comparison, self-doubt, fear of failing, and the life-changing lessons God’s taught me and ten other women, {whose stories are in the book} you will discover how to change the way you feel by changing the way you think – which will transform the way you live!
Expanding on what readers of my first book LOVED most: “When I say … God says …” statements, I’ve written 60 new devotions and new {WISGS} statements to equip you with a new a thought map and a promise – to live in every day!
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Hi. There, reading your email today has inspired me to get moving! It has been very stressful here. My husband got a job transfer and he has been very stressed and taking it out on our family. We need to live in forgiveness and Gods grace everyday and remember we are all human and we all need a savior! God bless you for giving us this message today. I really needed it and I sent it to my husband and friends who need it to. If I win the book I plan to share it with others who need it right now.
Thank you for all you do!
Patty picinich
Yep,just had a fail about 5 min ago, needed this. Thanks for posting!
I am trying so hard to “let go and let God”. I keep letting go but I keep taking back also. I feel like a failure somewhere at some time each day it seems. I let stress come in and I lose my attitude of gratitude at work or with my family. Instead of relying on God to carry me through, I try to take control and usually make a bigger mess of things.
God knew this was exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you for following his calling and sharing your talents with us!
I loved the explanation between what Satan says vs, what the Holy Spirit says. It’s so easy to believe the words of Satan, but we know that God’s grace and mercy is sufficient for us, regardless of the things we may do wrong!
Today’s devotion is spot-on! When I blow it (every day, it seems), I feel as if I’ll never be perfect in God’s eyes, or mine. I believe that I’ll never get there, that I keep going around the same mountain, struggling with the same thing, never seeing progress or victory. I can be my worst enemy. But then I hear God’s voice inviting me to come to Him in confession and repentance, and He’ll forgive me, help me to overcome this struggle and continue to love me unconditionally! Renee, thank you for this…I sure need to be reminded of God’s grace every day!
Thanks so much for this and for Confident Heart. The LORD has used it to encourage me so that I can encourage others. And He used numbers 21 and 22 to settle me concerning a leadership decision with which I was struggling. Praise His Name.
Thank you for your devotion. It really hit home. Many times I am filled with doubt and that leads to insecurities and feelings of discouragement. I know God loves me just as I am, but sometimes it’s hard to believe that he can love this sinner woman. Your devotion is exactly what I needed to remember how much God loves me and how much he wants me to trust Him, just as I am. Thanks again and God bless you!!!!
Sometimes Satan’s condemnation can be louder than the Spirit’s conviction. It can be hard to squelch his noise so that we can hear what we really need to hear. Sometimes, a lot of times, I need that daily reminder to listen to His still small voice and block out the noise of the deceiver.
Thank you so much for making me feel normal! I am far from perfect but yet Christ still showers myself and family with grace and love! You have reminded me to try and stay on the Christian path! For example I shouldn’t have doubted my husband he made the correct decisions for us regarding how our money was spent. God gave him the direction in were to go.
I wake up every morning to read these wonderful uplifting devotionals. I thank God that He made you the way you are so I could learn from your experiences ! They are just how I feel at times.
Thank you for your devotional today. I serve on staff at a church and work with many wonderful volunteers each week. Sometimes it is hard not to judge and write stories in my head as to why people do some of the things they do. I have to constantly extend grace, but sometimes I don’t extend that same grace to myself. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us .
What a wonderful devotion of encouragement and the difference in hearing God’s word and the enemies.
I would love to add this book to my newly formed bible book club. Two close girlfriends and I started this book club in hopes to hear God’s work and words through fellowship. We’re all young and married and that seems to go hand and hand with comparison and self-doubt at times so I can assure you your lessons would not be lost on us. I’m looking forward to reading your book with my girlfriends if we’re selected!
As always God uses your ministry to speak to me the words I need to hear at just the right time. Gods timg is always perfect!
As a mom of two young kids, I often struggle with my response to them when they have done wrong. I will try so hard to respond to them with patience and speak words of Life over them, but by the late afternoon my patience is gone and I will be snappy towards them when they misbehave. It always makes me feel horrible! I find myself crying at night to my husband about feeling defeated. This devotional really hit home for me. What great motivation to know that God uses our weak moments to teach us so that we can teach others who are struggling with the same issues! Now that’s a great way to defeat the enemy!
This spoke to my heart! At bible study two nights ago, this came up and I confess, I wallowed in my guilt and shame. Thank you for this!
Thank you so much for being the inspiration and having the words I needed this morning! I have so much going on and conflict occurring within my self at this moment, it is challenging and your words are a great source of inspiration and guidance!! Thank you Renee and God Bless!!
This message really spoke to my heart. Thank you for your openness and sharing how God is working in you. It is such an encouragement!
God certainly used you to hit me with that 2×4 this morning. Thank you.
Dearest Renee,
What can I say, you have said it all, I am not perfect myself, then again none of us are. I would love to read your book and dealt deeper into your wisdom that you have been bless with.
Lorraine