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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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God is so good. I really needed this today!
Thank you so much for the reminder that Satan wants to condemn us and hold us in the pit of guilty shame. But the Holy Spirit will convict us and provide us with a way to repent and turn our wrong choices around for good.
This reminds me of when I have not been keeping in touch with someone. I start to feel guilty for not calling them, the shame of the guilt keeps me from making the phone call, then with out realizing it another week or two has passed and I still haven’t reached out to them. When I finally get over my guilt and make the phone call, apologize for not calling, then everything is okay. Instead of feeling guilty and being stuck in a mirey pit, i will choose to see this as conviction and take ACTION to repent and make things right!!!
Putting some “to dos” aside and making some phone calls THIS MORNING!!!
Thank you so much for today’s devotion. I have been in these spots more often than I care to count. You are a blessing to me and I am thankful that God uses you like He does. So often, we hate to admit that we are very much human and in the flesh and that even through these times, He can and will still use us. We must praise Him in the storms as well as the good times. He can call on a rock to cry in our place. His grace is unlike anything that any of us have ever experienced except through Him, or at least it is to me. May my life glorify Him every day.
I just wanted to thank you for this devotional today. It really registered with me. Especially the whole confidence building. When you ask the Lord to help build confidence in you really have to watch out for him to send a challenge and a lesson builder too. That’s what I feel he is teaching me this week. Thank you for reminding me that he is there to give grace along the way.
I do this to myself over and over. I am like Paul– a chief of sinners! Thank you so much for posting this. I am plagued with self-doubt every time I start to do something for God. There’s the enemy right there shutting me down, making me think I’m not good enough. And I’m not. But God’s grace is. “My grace is sufficient for you.” God has given us all we need to succeed in our ministry for him. Wow. Thanks for being real, Renee.
I’m finishing up my Master’s at the age of 46. This week is hitting me as to exactly what I will do with it. I don’t feel equipped enough to speak even though I have been a worship leader for nearly 10 years. I see God pulling me in a direction that I would love to go, but lack the confidence to ‘pull it off’. All my night time dreams involve me doing what I believe He is calling me to do, however. I read the email devotional and it’s becoming clearer and clearer that I need to press toward the mark of His goals for my life and even though I do not feel the confidence to be what he’s calling me to be, He will give me what I need. Thank you Renee for your words today.
Found your blog via P31. I can’t wait to read more of what you have to say.
Just yesterday I said I was a failure of a mom after I had yelled at my son and totally lost my patience-I did “get up” and I repented and apologized to my son and he also apologized to me-point is Satan played on my sin and caused guilt to take hold and thoughts to run wild. This devo helped me see the forgiveness of God is there even tho I really messed up. I need to hold on to the Spirits voice especially during rough times when i sin b/c that’s when Satan will try to pour on the condemnation. I really liked your pastors example of the difference between guilt and condemnation-so thankful for a devo that meets me where I’m at-God is good and I pray for a better day today b/c this is a new day-made by God who is here with me as I do my ministry as wife and mom.
I really enjoyed the devotion today. It spoke directly to me and gives me the encouragement that I need as a wife and mom. God’s grace is awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share.
What a wonderful reminder today that Gid doesn’t call us to be perfect! He calls us to let His forgiveness be revealed through us and His wonderful, amazing grace be perfected in us! Thank you for your ministry!
God bless you today. I pray you continue to reach the thousands!
I confuse those two often. I will start to be down on myself after one mistake, instead of accepting it for what it was and learning from it. Thank for this message. I needed it.
Thank you so much for your words here and on the P31 devo. I am like so many other mom’s and we all slip up and then seems to beat ourselves up. Peace is something I feel like I am constantly chasing…. and that is anything but peaceful. I am so grateful for the wonderful resources you offer that provide insight into a better way to do things…. God’s way.
The devotion today really hit home because I have done the same thing this week and then felt like I needed to be put in a hole somewhere. This reminds me that God can use me because of the experiences and failures I have done for His glory.
We can all use such a devotional to help with the everyday attacks of satan.
I really enjoy reading your devotionals I get so much from them.they really do give me the encouragement that I need.thank you
God has spoke this message to me over and over again this week. On my own, I am not good enough, but because of his grace, I can do what he has called me to do.
Thank you for all your inspirational messages. It helps to know others struggle with the same things I do at times. Thankfully God sees past our flaws and loves us despite our shortcomings. Have a blessed day!
I love this devotional. I so see myself in it. I let all those things get to me, then get so overwhelmed and start snapping on everyone. And now I see myself in my kids. I need to change ME so I can help change THEM with God’s help!
What beautiful words Renee, Thank you for being so real with each of us. We as wives, mothers, friends, sister, etc can always look and see our faults and weakness but God’s grace is always there in every situation. When we can look at our weakness that’s acutally a blessing because when we are weak He is made strong! Amen!
HAve a blessed day sweet friend, thank you again for your kind encouraging words. They were just what I needed today!
This was a great devotion and touched my heart this morning. As i sat a read these words, tears came to my eyes just realizing how God’s loving grace is sufficient and he loves me despite the messed up package that I am. I too often find myself doubting him when i should have the confidence that his grace should give. It is so difficult to let go of the things we always thought was right and start living a life guided by our heavenly Father–his way, not our way. I pray for this confidence and peace from him to control my life in every situation and stop beating myself up when i do mess up– I need to realize all of this struggle is a result of “Me” being a work in progress.