Welcome Encouragement for Today friends! I’m so glad you stopped by. You can enter today’s drawing at the bottom of this post. And if you’d like to hear about upcoming giveaways or more confessions from an imperfect woman in desperate need of grace,
be sure to SIGN UP for EMAIL UPDATES in my sidebar –>
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.
If my P31 devotion or blog post resonated with you today, I hope you’ll ENTER TO WIN a copy of my new Confident Heart Devotional. I truly believe the stories and truths in it will change your life {like they have mine}!
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!
ENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!)
: Click “Share Your Thoughts” below and do just that to enter to win one of three copies of my devotional book, and a $15 P31 Online Store gift certificate today!
****If you are reading this via email, click here to return to my blog and be part of the giveaway. {Your comment mus be left below this post to enter. Thanks!}
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I struggle with this daily! I have been pregnant or nursing for the past eight years and counting. With all of these beautiful, noisy, smart, strong-willed children around it is common for me to go from doting mother to screaming banshee several times a day. One thing that has helped me exercise more patience with my husband and children is to think of the Lord as a parent. I think of how much He loves me and how patient He continues to be with me.
Thank you for this word of encouragement! It’s good to know that I am not alone.
Since I work for Hospice you can imagine that my days are often so full of stressful situations that I tend to get caught up in that and don’t take the time to read the Proverbs 31 devotionals for that day. I guess God knew I needed to read what you wrote today because I was prompted to read it before starting my normal daily routine. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you. It was a much needed message for me. May God continue to richly bless your ministry.
I subscribed to your facebook posts a while back & they have really helped me in many ways. I just subscribed to your devotion email and todays email was exactly what I needed to hear. It always amazes me how God puts just what I need to hear in front of me!!
Thanks Renee for such a great reminder of the wonderful ways that God “parents” and loves on us as His children, even when we fail. God Bless you and your family. : )
This devotional helped to reassure me of Gods Grace!! The church I was raised up in did not teach me about all of His forgiving attributes. I truly felt the Holy Spirit come into my life when I was 23 and I am 47 now so I have had to “re-learn” things and sometime its hard for me. I find myself not taking an opportunity because I feel like I am not worthy to speak on His behalf. Even though people will tell me and show me in scripture it is so uplifting so see people share their individual experiences, makes me feel more confident to do the things He has called me to do. Thank You!!
Thank you for your devotion, it really hit home with me. I love the part of your prayer which asks Jesus to “replace our guilt-induced doubts to grace-infused confidence.” I will be praying that prayer as much as I can, I need to replace the anger and doubts with the confidence and grace that only Jesus can give.
Reading with tears in my eyes-what a comforting message-grace and forgiveness! Thank you for sharing!
Oh my Goodness, I have just read your devotional on Proverbs 31 and have tears flowing!!!! I am felt that guilt a number of times and am truly thankful for God’s mercy and GRACE each and every time. There has been many times that I have not felt worthy to be a leader at Kings Kid’s or start teaching Jr. Church for the first time this month with my husband. We are not worthy of that great role, but with God’s Grace and Mercy we are!!! Praise God for that! I totally need A Confident Heart Devotional 🙂 to guide me thought the new challenges I am facing in my church ministries!
Would love to win your book!
Thank You!
This was just what I needed to hear this morning. Every single time I think I’m all alone and deserve nothing good, I get a message from God that he hears me and is with me always. Still trying to learn that I am deserving of mercy and grace. But messages like these help so much. I am so grateful and thankful. Thank you for sharing this. L~
I read your devotional from Proverbs 31 today and it really touched my heart to know that I am not the only one who struggles with that. I have had days like that too and it’s good to know that I shouldn’t beat myself up for not being perfect. And then your devotional on your blog hit that home even more. We aren’t perfect and sometimes we lose it with our family or our husbands and I will try to remember to apologize and ask forgiveness when I blow up again. I’m not perfect and it’s bound to happen. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Thank you so much!
I was just telling (in a moment of frustration) my husband the other day how I lose it so easily and I hate it. I want to be calm and happy and not have little things set me off. I have been hoping to find a devotional to help me with this very thing.
Wow, I really needed to hear this today. I have been feeling so much guilt over what I consider “bad parenting” lately. Being under a lot of stress through life transition right now, I haven’t been leaning on His mercy, grace, and love to sustain me. Thank you for sharing.
I have struggled with God’s calling on my life because of some things that happened in my past and my feelings of unworthiness. The devotional today really opened my heart to the fact that my confidence is not in my ability, it in my Savior, who is gracious and has forgiven me of my sins. Like the Samaratin woman at the well, God has given me living water and I can walk confidently in Him. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you to encourage women across the world.
Dear Renee, I so relate to the dilemma of peace filled moments when all is going well and then one instant can have all that we thought and learned come crashing down. I am praying that we are all one step closer each time that happens to experience more and more of His grace as we grow and become more like Jesus!
Blessings to you the ministry God has called you to,
Lynelle
Thank you for today’s email devotional. Even though I feel certain of the calling God has made on my life, I sometimes feel as though I am not good enough, strong enough, Godly enough to manage it. However, I don’t have to be good enough, it is God’s ministry that He has entrusted me with and I am just a vessel. Thank you for the encouragement this morning 🙂 Sometimes we need to be reminded of our worth in Christ!
Wonderful post! Just what I needed to be reminded of today.
Thank you!
I love reading your words of wisdom! As I read these I realize I’m not alone. We are all so guilty of this. The devil sure tries to take hold of our failures! God bless you and keep up the great great work God has chosen you to do!