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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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Oh I can so relate to your comments as both a Christian woman and mom, and that makes your wisdom all the more appealing to my imperfect heart. Thank you for your encouragement. I especially want to soak in the truth of the difference between condemnation and conviction–I’ll be re-reading that several times!
It is so easy jump from allowing Grace to work to me trying to do all I can to earn it, as if I could! But, then I do feel guilty and doubtful and unworthy and think I do not deserve His Grace at all.Thanks for the reminder that it is not about me or my feelings or my “doing” or “undoing”. I have to learn everyday to just take Him at His word, trust Him and lean on Him. Thanks for the reminder that no matter our status in the world, we still are in need of the Holy Spirit and Grace every single minute of our human lives. And, yes please enter my name in the drawing today..
Thank you for this. I let myself be led off track in my purpose of bringing value and encouraging women. I’m the one that leads me off track with self doubt & insecurity, thinking I must be crazy to think I can help women feel good about themselves when I don’t always feel good about myself. Remembering that God’s strength is made great in my weakness helps, knowing that He can use it all. Thank you!
This is the kind of advice I need everyday! So often all I hear is the deceiver instead if the forgiving voice of my Lord.
Thanks for being human, as we all are.
God has repeatedly brought before me this week the difference between convictiòn and condemnation. Thank you for reiterating this truth.
This sure hit home with me today! Hard as I try to keep calm and always look on the positive side of things, there always seems to be that ONE day where it all seems to go to the wayside and I snap. Then I feel so guilty afterward because I know that is not how God wants me to act or feel. Then I wind up asking for His forgiveness (AGAIN) and wonder just how many times is He going to grant me His grace! I am so grateful that He loves me and continues to listen even though I call on Him quite regularly. He is my rock and salvation, forever!
I really needed to hear your P31 devotion today, I’m also in ministry and often feel unqualified to lead the beautiful women who attend my small group and your message reminds me that I’m ministering to my own spirit as well and how much we need the Holy Spirit to guide us. Thank you.
I loved and needed this reminder! I have learned that the things I tried to hide and cover up, are exactly the things God wants me to share when I speak, and when I write. The things that embarrass me and I do not want anyone to know; are the things God has used in my life, to touch and help others. Sometimes I laugh, and think, ‘how could God use me and this awful mess of a situation for His glory?’ and then God shows me how He uses that mess and makes it a miracle! I’m real, and that’s all people need to see from each of us … we are real. We make mistakes and messes. But through Christ, we can turn them around!
This was a good devotion. Thank you for sharing your struggles. We are to encourage one another. Thanks!
I love this devotion today. I am struggling with trying to get my prayer life back in order and dealing with self-condemnation because of my daily thoughts and struggles. Then I feel like God is mad at me or punishing me because I am such a mess. Instead of trusting God more, I end up feeling defeated, negative and short-fused.
Wonderful words to hear. Sometimes women worry to step up in ministry because they are not perfect. We can speak to others through our messiness. Thank you for sharing your words.
So many times I have felt so overwhelmed with guilt of how can I lead others when I feel I haven’t lived up to the word that I was to deliver. I never looked at it in the way of realizing that the same mercy and grace of God that I would be encouraging the women with would be the same mercy and grace that God would give to me. Who much better to do this than the one who had first been a partaker of the same downfalls and mishaps? This certainly blessed me and helped even the more to realize that when I encourage others, I encourage myself. Thank you so much for sharing this devotional. I really needed to hear this.
Thanks for this! I often find myself thinking how bad I am for the way I reacted when in all actuality, God is reminding me to do better next time!
As a young woman about to graduate college, this is something I struggle with regularly. No, I do not have children just yet, but every day I struggle with the guilt of my mistakes. In turn, I question myself and my worthiness. It’s a battle that I think many young women face. This message really hit home for me, as I constantly need to be reminded that He is gracious; even though I may stumble, I cannot let me guilt stand in the way of my relationship with Him. This was exactly what I needed today.
Thanks, Renee for the reminder that in the midst of the journey, no matter how difficult or how messy, we can know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28
Thanks for the wonderful devotion today! I had a very trying evening with my 11 year old yesterday. We both ended up with hurt feelings. I asked God to help me be a better mother who doesn’t yell and scream at her children to get them to understand their wrong doings. I ended up feeling very guilty and not confident as a mom or a christian.
I am struggling with an addict husband and have been very negative with him when he relapses. I need to stop
I will pray for you today, Kerri. Sweet woman of God…you’re being lifted up.
Love it, need to hear, keep them coming Renee
Hi Renee’! I would love to win the devotional book. As women we can be so hard on ourselves, and others, and so quick to condemn. Thank you for giving us tools to help us and also pointing out that this is another scheme of our enemy, Satan, to throw us off track and live guilt-ridden lives. Learning to live confident and free from doubt is a daily process and only God’s Word can combat the lies of the enemy! Thank you! Many blessings to you and your family!