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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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Thank you for being real and being honest! It’s so wonderful to know we are not alone in our struggles.
I love how the Lord is always teaching me something new. God is Worthy of all of our praises!!!
God is merciful.
Fellow believers be merciful also.
We all have stuff we’re dealing with.
Smile because you never know who’s day you just may touch.
In HIM, Jacki 🙂
Thanks for sharing the story about losing with your kids. All too often my failure is in the same arena. It’s good to remember that these failures do not condemn me!!!
This devotional hit the spot this morning. God is good and knows exactly what we need to hear! You are a blessing.
This is one of my biggest problem areas…as a wife and mother of two young kids I have lost my cool so many times. Each time I am riddled with guilt and feel like I should just go to bed, pull up the covers and never leave…I needed to hear this today and would love to read this book!
Thank you so much for this devotional, this morning…it was exactly what I needed to hear! So grateful for the compassion and conviction brought by our Lord… while at the same time removing the condemnation we can be so quickly entrapped by! Blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing your gift of putting into words what so many of us need to hear.
You bless me daily.
A new devotional would be perfect for a fresh start every morning…
Thanks for the reminder that God is not done with me yet.
Thank you for your encouragement and being so open. God spoke to me through this devotion.
God is amazing. The grace and love shown over the past several months has been life changing. I’m not perfect and God loves me anyway. Oooo that could be a song!
Ha… I was hired to teach a parenting seminar this week at our church and I can not tell you how many times the thoughts have entered my head – doubt, fear, “you’re a fake”, you don’t know anything. Yet God just keeps showing up and showering me with great information to share. I love the part – that the ministry coordinator said to you- I need it just as much as the people I am teaching… I know I am a better parent every time I teach a class. Thanks for sharing this. I would love your devotional!
Needed this today 🙂
I read this before I even grabbed my coffe, and I’m so glad I did. Strange/crazy day yesterday. God bless and thank you for sharing!
I loved your devotional today!!! I am a pastor’s wife and sometimes it is a struggle to remember that I don’t have to be “perfect”, just ready to live and love others as Christ would have me do!
Thank you for reminding me that I am not the only one who reacts…asks forgiveness and then despite best intentions, does it again. I will keep striving in God’s grace. Thanks again.
Reading your post on Proverbs 31 this morning was the absolute best way to start my “second” morning. With being up all night with my 4 year old up crying all night for a reason we still do not know, to trying to console my 9 year old boy who is frustrated with the actions of a classmate, I am w-e-a-r-y. My husband left without a sweet “good-bye” and kiss from me, and all I could think about is how I am just failing in helping each of my ‘boys’ to start their day feeling loved. I sat down at my computer to look for an inspiring word from my daily emailed devotions, and Voila! your message was delivered in God’s perfect timing as I needed it this am in particular. I try to remember that the Holy Spirit convicts and the enemy condemns. Your message with how to determine this is priceless for me. I just printed it off so I have the reference with me. Joy is on the way!
Renee … you have no idea how much I needed to ‘hear’ this on this particular morning! I love that God speaks through women such as yourself and we receive these messages in our “inboxes” … ‘for such a time as this’ …….. and I agree … you can’t teach what you don’t ‘know’ 🙂
Thank you for this encouraging word. It definitely hit home. Thank God for His amazing grace!