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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.
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!
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I laughed when I read your P31 devotional on 4/2. It’s refreshing to hear someone else’s shortcomings. Thanks for the transparency. We need more of that in the Christian circles. No one is perfect!
Wonderful message. Thank you 🙂
God always knows! This was just the inspiration I needed this morning. Thank you.
Thank you for your post today! Sometimes I struggle with feeling condemned by my actions. Who doesn’t, sometimes, right? I love your devotionals on Proverbs 31. That’s what lead me here. Thank you for your honest stories. I can relate and I feel like I am not alone, reading your blog today and the comments of all these wonderful women. 🙂
Wow! This is exactly what I needed to here. I have been in a vicious cycle of self-doubt and it is affecting all areas if my life. You’re message is timely and so very encouraging. Thank you.
Spoke volumes to me. God bless!
Any article/story that has the word guilt in has my full attention. I am permanently riddled with guilt. From what I have done to what I am currently doing and to what I should be doing, I have always got the heavy collar of guilt around my neck.
I don’t know why, well I can guess it’s from my past huge sinful ways which I have prayed for forgiveness and accepted that God has forgiven but yet I am still burdened with guilt. Every day I look at myself and wonder how God still stands by me.
I am old enough to learn from my mistakes but when if ever will I be bold and old enough to shake off the “guilt”
This book sounds like it has a lot of advice and help and I would love to read and share it
Thank you for the wonderful women’s ministries I receive they somehow all seem to hit the nail on the head for me
Regards Aneesa
Would love to win your book!
Thank you for your honesty and transparency. How refreshing this is to me. We don’t have to be perfect, and that feels great. We are all a work in progress.
Thank you for that message. There have been many “bad mother/wife/woman” moments in my life. Even though I know God has forgiven me, I still have doubts about the long term effects especially on my daughters. I needed this message. I need to trust God is sovereign and my mess ups are insignificant in light of his omniscient plan,
Sis. Swope, thanks for blessing my soul this morning with your devotional, No more guilt-induced doubt. It clarified the difference between conviction and condemnation, gave vivid examples of each, and instructed me on how to make wrong right. I would love to own a personal copy of your 60 day A Confident Heart devotional book! I am striving daily to work on me so that I can earn my way into heaven’s gates. I feel your book would be an essential tool that I could use to better myself and strengthen my walk with God…and once I’ve completed the 60 days, I can bless another sister along the way just as you’ve blessed me by allowing her to read the book! IT’S ALL ABOUT KINGDOM BUILDING!!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Patricia J. Greenwood
Please enter me! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Loved the message in today’s post – hope I win!
Thank you so much for the devotional. I have struggled all my life with guilt for doing or saying the wrong thing. I have a hard time accepting that God loves and forgives me inspite of my sin. Thank you for helping me to fight those thoughts and feelings in a righteous way.
I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to this! Your devotional today is so timely for me, because I feel like I mess up this way often with my kids, my mom, and sometimes my husband. This brought to mind Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus ”
I condemn myself all the time. Thank you for reminding me of the Lord’s all sufficient grace.
Thank you. Sometimes I need to be reminded. Thank you for doing that in such a way I heard the Lord smile.
I can totally relate to this. Thanks for your wonderful devotions.
Sometimes I feel I am so far away from God. I feel like I am the worst Mother and wife, and such a bad example of a Christian. Then I read your devotional and realize that we all fall short. Your studies help me to focus on Gods truth and get back on track!
I am always amazed at God’s timing and today was no different.I needed those reminders. I needed those reminders today after last few days. Thank you Renee and her team. Thank you God for perfect timing as always.
This was a great devotional. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Thank you for your transparency and honesty. Having been a part of women’s ministry on various levels for many years, I know all too well what a trap that guilt and condemnation can set for us. Your message is a reminder once again that it really is all about receiving and giving grace!
Love your devotionals……hope I win!
Would love to win…thank you
I soooo needed this this morning!!! Can’t wait to share it! Thank you !
I really needed to read this.
Your devotion today was great. I know we all experience these things. We just need to take them to God first. This I don’t normally do. Thanks you.
I am so inspired and uplifted by the Proverbs 31 devotional each day.
You wrote this devotion just for me, right?! Just like the sermon my pastor always preaches just for me! Wow! It would be fantastic to have this book. God has begun showing me and speaking to me about the doubts I have about myself and how they are not from Him. Loved the explanation between condemnation and conviction. I could use 60 days of similar devotions!! I’m excited and hopeful to be free from guilt-infused doubt and full of grace-infused confidence!!
This resonates so clearly for me. In the past as a younger christian I’d always feel so harried trying to do all the right things, say all the right things, and be the right person….it was exhausting and moreover it wasn’t the real me. In recent years I’ve learned to let go and just be because it’s even harder to try to be this perfect woman I envision myself being “one day” with two kids and a youth and young adult pastor husband going back to school so he can become a deacon. (Did I mention that I also try to watch kids from my home to make ends meet? Yikes!) Sometimes, even when we know the truth, condemnation becomes so easy to listen to and accept. The voice of the Spirit is such a gentle voice and it *is* so specific to what we need in each moment. Thank you for this post.
Thank you for your devotional today! I have felt like that so many times with my children, my husband, and even my kids at school! Then, afterwards, I question whether or not I should be the one working with my kids at church. However, we are all human and are going to have those moments. Thankfully God is there to give us that grace and help us to see what happened and what should’ve happened. I would be nothing without Him! I praise Him for forgiveness and the opportunity to try again with those we love. He is so good!
As each devotion, this is exactly what I needed to hear today! So often I feel unworthy because I feel like I constantly fall usually by being quick tempered. Thank you!
I have never heard explained the difference between condemnation and conviction. How freeing to understand this!
I always love to hear that other women aren’t perfect either!
Thank you for sharing your heart; you are human just like us. God is so good and know the struggles we face. I am so thankful for your honesty .
Thanks for the chance to win, you are very inspiring!
sparkle & shine *~*
Thank you for being obedient to God and writing this book. I am thankful for your courage! God bless you!
His power is made perfect in our weakness! Thank you for that reminder this morning.
WOW…right between the eyes w some powerful truth. I have NEVER thought of it that way and condemnation is one of my biggest issues. Add mommy hormones and I am a mess in 10 seconds when I am 100% convinced that I am the worst screw up mom there is. I would so appreciate this devotional. Thanks for offering this and for sharing some awesome truths in this post!! 🙂
I am so grateful! I have that guilty feeling much more than I thought ; ( and that is the enemy…I wish I could see it as him and not me just being an awful Mom, Wife, or Daughter. Thank you so much for your humility and allowing your experiences for the good of God for us! My soul feels free this morning!
Thank you for your devotional today. Very encouraging for me.
Dear Renee,
I’m sitting here in awe of how the Spirit led me to your devotional. Every since I got engaged and married 7 years ago, I have found I have anger issues and lose it with my husband, children, and family. My husband is also a pastor, and I try to live up to that pastorial wife image the world and myself created. I am about to go on a mission trip to Haiti and have been feeling unworthy and alone, like I’m the only pastor’s wife who has cursed out her husband or her children, whether aloud or in my thoughts. Along with this came doubts of God, Jesus, and my salvation, which happened 20 years ago. Why would I be struggling with issues if I’ve been a Christian for this long? Or at least the same issues? Why would I have not learned my lesson? Am I not a Christian? Other women are better than me! Why have I lived luke-warm? Does God want to spit me out of His mouth? Shouldn’t I be nearly perfect or have my life together by now? 🙂 all questions the enemy throws at me since giving my life over to my King. I understand why He led me to your post this morning, and so many others. Truly you spoke Jesus’ words of love and forgiveness to me. Thank you, Renee, for your words, blog, books, life, and testimony. He truly shines through you! Well done my good and faithful servant….<3
this sounds really good to me and just what I need to grow thankyou xx
Your words give me so much hope and remind me to focus on Jesus instead of the voice of the accuser. I have the poor choice of abortion in my past so there are days that Satan really try’s or bring me down. Especially since I have been leading a post abortion bible study. Thank you so much for your book, A Confident Heart. Many blessings to you!
I struggle with this daily. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this devotional; not only what you wrote but also for this forum allowing for all the responses after. Sometimes it is not only the guilt I/the enemy pile(s) on but then I feel like I am on the only one that struggles with such things. While I am sorry that you and others out there struggle, I am grateful for your candid writing and hearing I am not alone…it helps depersonalize the enemy’s attack and highlight Gods grace. It was exactly what I needed to read this morning.
I’m so glad I found this site! Every day the devotionals hit home, but especially this one. I’m recently divorced and struggle with being “good enough” for a God to use. I’m slowly coming to realize that He will use me BECAUSE of what I’ve been through. I may have something to share that someone not divorced cannot understand. Thank you for the encouragement!
I enjoy reading your messages…they are always insightful and always give me confidence!
This scenario happens to me quite often I have been spending time in prayer asking God to work on my heart and make my words and my tone less harsh. Thanks for the devos.
Setting yourself out there, leading, often benefits you as much or more than those you minister to. We serve a generous God.
I know, I’m a guy and don’t belong here! This book would be for my struggling wife who so needs a touch of Gods grace in her life! Even though these devotionals are directed towards women I like to read them too, hope that doesn’t make me weird? God bless you all!