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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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I think when a leader is “real”, makes a bigger impact on people that they can relate to you & therefore will be more open to your teachings. Thank you for your open, honest struggles showing us all we are not alone. I’ve learned so much from P 31 ministries & am applying to my life, making imperfect progress.
I am always guilty in my mind. Anything that happens to my children, grandchildren or husband….I am the one to blame. In my own head. I am going through one of the hardest times in my life and reading your stories and devotionals have really helped.
Loved the book, would really enjoy the devotional! Thank you for sharing and for encouraging me!
Thank you for being so real in your blog and in the devotions you share. One of my biggest struggles is self-doubt, which leads to so much more. Your transparency makes me realize I’m not the only one and that it is OK.
Thanking God for the REMINDER & WAKE UP CALL that I am under construction…and not headed for destruction by the enemy. “Although guilt can make us give up on ourselves, God won’t. Instead, He offers to take what feels like destruction and use it for reconstruction in our journey with Him.” Today I am blessed by you! What a way to start my day…You have been my morning coffee !! Amen.
Thank you for sharing your weak moment. It is refreshing to know that others have experienced situations similar to our own. Your post was a great way to start a fresh new day.
I needed to hear that this morning as I am bringing my heart closer to God and to be more Godly each day. Each of us needs reminding that we are not perfect but we are still loved and will make mistakes along this jouney! This book would be sure to help me with my journey to get me through each day!
Thanks! What an AWESOME devotional to read first thing this morning! Thank you for your honesty and for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this. Knowing the difference between conviction and condemnation is very important. God’s voice is loving and perfect. His grace and mercy neverending.
Thank you for the message God gave you for me today. You said exactly what my counselor said about guilt is not from God. I struggle immensely with guilt and my thought patterns from the effects of abuse.
Your message today was timely in my life. So often we feel as women that we have to be perfect in order to be models for our children, and show the world that we have it all together. I am a home visitor working with families and babies, and recently “fell apart” at a reflective supervision time. It is group supervision, so I was laying myself open for ridicule and or judgement, but I have many difficult cases and one just tore at my heart and I could not hold all the feelings inside anymore. I felt some relief and support afterwards, but something I said during this made me realize just how tightly wrapped I have been…”I usually don’t cry at things like this in front of others”…Crying actually opens doors for God to enter…one of many places that He does without our knowing until afterwards…I have found this past year talking with God more each and every day…I started the “Stressed Less Living” series, but had difficulties with the computer blogging, so have the book and will go back to it again one day. But the one Bible verse I will always hold near and dear is Isaiah 41:10….Trusting God is what we all need to do, in spite of the place we find ourselves sitting. Thanks for your message and to others who share theirs each and every day.
Thank you for the encouragement!
I needed this today. I am so guilty of saying things to my children that I later regret!
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I can’t tell you how timely it is! I am in a support group/bible study at my church for women going through infertility. Recently, I was asked by our Director of Women’s Ministry if I would be interested and willing to step in to lead or co-lead the group starting this summer or fall. Well I told her I would pray about it, but inside I thought there was no way I could lead this group when I was in the thick of it, battling my way through some pretty tough times. Then last night after the group was over, the leader asked me if I would consider co-leading. Another prompting! I told her I would pray about it, but still wasn’t sure. And then this morning there is this story in my devotional time. Boy, when God nudges us, sometimes He whispers and sometimes He resorts to a swift kick in the rear! I suppose it’s time to step out in faith 🙂
What an eye opener today’s devotional is!! Thankful God is using you to speak to women.
I once told my pastor, I’m not good enough to teach. I’ll never forget, he said when you think you’re good enough, that’s when we have a problem. We are never good enough, but Jesus is. So grateful for His grace. Your experience is a great reminder of this. His power, not ours!
Hi Renee,
I do enjoy that you allow us into your reality. Many times, people assume because you are in ministry that you don’t have those moments where a (beep) comes out. 🙂 Transparency coupled with God’s grace yields a freedom in knowing that He still loves us in our imperfections. Blessings.
Knowing the difference between condemnation & conviction is very enlightening. Now I can identify what my actions & thoughts should be when faced with feeling guilty.
Oh, how God has used you this morning! Your words on grace-infused confidence have touched my heart deeply. I deperately needed to hear your words! God has used your “realness” to speak to me and tell me just what I needed! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! May God bless you and continue to use you!!
I literally just wrote in my journal about not being godly enough or cut out for ministry…I quit. then I open up my encouragement for the day to find the title, ‘no more guilt induced doubt’. thanks, may I accept His a Grace with confidence in my time of need.