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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 am always guilty! Guilty that I am not super woman and can’t be everywhere and do everything. Somedays the more I try the more I fail. I allow the condemnation to take hold and then I become the monster I don’t want to be. Thank you for your encouragement! It is amazing how knowing we are all not perfect helps!
Loved the devotion. Look forward to being lifted daily by your book.
Thank you for sharing what the Lord taught you about condemnation and conviction. It is good to know we can relate and are not alone, we are all daughters of the King and His grace is sufficient for all of us.
Bless you, Renee
Thank you for the wonderful encouragement and reminder that we have a great inheritance in our Lord. May we all know today that we have great confidence and strength as we walk along with God each day.
Loved your Encouragement for Today devotion. It’s so much better to know that you are human! I have read devotions and books before by authors who make you feel that they are perfect and while of course I know that no one is, when an author shares their less than stellar moments, a connection is made with the reader (as opposed to the reader feeling that they can never measure up).
Love the condemnation vs conviction post as well.. Sometimes the condemnation comes from others spoken in anger and we need to turn to God to see if there is a grain of truth (conviction) in the words spoken but not to internalize the condemnation. Thank you!
REALLY struggling with my ill husband and the issues that has created. I am weary and am struggling to find the words to pray. Asking God to give me strength and wisdom. Would love to hear His words through yours. Thank you.
I will remember this next time Satan tries to trip me up..Thank you for this awesome devotional.
What a wonderful reminder of God’s grace and mercy. Thank you for reminding me that I can confidently approach God and he will gladly replace my guilt with his grace. Always.
All my life I have struggled with what you have written. I want to get past this feeling of guilt. Thank you for describing the difference between what Satan wants me to hear and the grace that God wants me to receive. May God continue to keep growing you just as He keeps growing me.
Thanks for sharing! VERY helpful!
Thank you so much for your devotion and sharing your moments! “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…and is a discerned of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). When we study the Bible, it requires that we have a personal relationship with the Author. When I have come apart moments like you have described, and I open my devotions to find the message you had to share today, I come face to face with God showing me what I need to hear at just the right time!! His timing!! To be confronted with Gods prerecord end answers in the Bible is to be confronted with God Himself!!!WOW!! I would love to win a copy of your daily devotion book!!
Needed this today! I know I am harder on my mothering abilities than others are. A good reminder.
I lack confidence in most areas of my life. I am a peace maker! I try to sooth everyone else’s problems and not focus on my own. I am probably contributing to their problems more than helping by trying to “fix it”. I was able to gain some confidence in Oct when I asked my husband to leave after 20 years of him abusing alcohol and drugs. Now I see that he wasn’t the only problem, it was I as well. My kids have suffered greatly from the disease. I need to gain control of my household. I ask for God’s strength and Confidence to set boundaries and rules and routines so there isn’t so much chaosis. My husband is doing much better working the 12 step program at AA. I too am in a program, but it is so hard to break bad habits. Thank you for listening…..I am not even sure what point I am trying to make. Thank you God for always loving and forgiving me daily! Anna
Thank you for your devotion it spoke volumes to me today. if I am honest. I listen more to the accuser & his condemnation.I buy the lie because of lack of intimacy there is something wrong with me.I struggle with co dependency,co sex addiction,social anxiety & self hatred..I struggle with clearly hearing the voice of God. & doubt myself & what God is doing in my life & marriage daily..Thank you for your reminder of how God speaks.
I often have mommy guilt and doubt. Thanks for this reminder!
It is easy to allow satan to bring us down and make us feel guilty and defeated. That is his plan, because when we feel defeated we surrender and defer from God’s plan. But inthe Lord’s great mercy He reminds us that is we fall, He picks us up. Thanks for sharing your encouraging message and reminding us we are in this struggle together.
Great lesson and makes total sense. The Lord puts it on our hearts to right the wrongs, not judge ourselves or others for our wrongs. Need to remember this lesson daily!
Thanks for all the uplifting and real thoughts!
God is so good!!
This devotion was right on time for me today! Thank you so much for just being transparent and allowing God to speak through you. I realize it isn’t easy to share ourselves. I have been struggling with God calling me to lead. To just step up and be obedient. The main struggle is just what you have written here. I am not perfect and have areas that I need to allow God to give me complete freedom from. However, I know He wants to use me and not let those failures continue to be failures but stepping stones. Victories to use for others’. Thank you again. A much needed word!
So good to be reminded of difference between conviction & condemnation.
Thanks for sharing. Such a good reminder.
Satan condemns accusingly, to make us feel guilty. God convicts lovingly, to lead our hearts to repentance. Love, Love, Love this!! Thank you for the reminder and for sharing your own struggles it is an encouragement to all Moms!
Thank you so much for sharing Renee! I often feel I am not up to the tasks that God has put before me. Thank you for making me feel that I am not alone in this 🙂 Elizabeth M
Guilt and doubt are two of the enemy’s favorite weapons against me. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you so much for the devotional. I have been blessed to know that I am not the only one and have sisters in Christ who have my feelings. Thank you everyone for sharing and being a blessing to me. The devotional was great and I am trying to put it to work in my life.
I truly am blessed by your devotionals online. Thank you so much, and GOD’S Blessing on and through you always.
Esther
I read the Proverbs 31 today, which led me to your blog. Both were things I needed to hear today. Our son and 5-year old grandson have been living with us for the past 4 1/2 years which has presented many challenges for me and my husband in many different ways. This morning was an especially difficult situation, and part of me wanted to say what I felt and in a manner that would have destroyed fragile feelings. I had prayed about the situation since about 4am, and although the outcome wasn’t as I had hoped at the time, I felt better about the way I handled the issue. I have definitely been in the ‘guilt’ frame of mind many times and hope that I continue to seek God’s grace and guidance first, because it will be through Him that things will rise and become better. Thank you for sharing your experience, it will help me in the future to remember to let God use me to His glory.
My lack of confidence and self doubt continue to plague me… although I know that God loves me and His Grace takes care of my downfalls. Thank you for your insight!
Thank you for today’s devotional. I sometimes do have moments when I feel guilty. I think maybe I wasn’t patient enough with my daughter or my husband. And I hate that nagging feeling that I did something horrible. But when we live by grace everything is a teaching moment from God. Please include me in the drawing for your devotional book. I do believe that it could help me not onlygrow my devotional time with God, but also grow to know God’s perfect purpose for not so perfect me! Thank you! and God Bless!
I still have trouble putting my faith in God. But I know that if I trust Him, He will help ease all fear that I have.
What a great lesson for me today. I’ve often stood in my kitchen & not reflected the light of Christ to my children, then consequentially burdened myself with shame.
God, help me to rise up and be the woman of peace you’ve made me to be.
After all that God has bought me through, I still have fear of not being able to handle some things with His help & I would truly appreciate prayer & direction on having a more intimate relationship with Hin
Thank you for today’s devotional. I sometimes do have moments when I feel guilty. I think maybe I wasn’t patient enough with my daughter or my husband. And I hate that nagging feeling that I did something horrible. But when we live by grace everything is a teaching moment from God. Please include me in the drawing for your devotional book. I do believe that it could help me not onlygrow my devotional time with God, but also grow to know God’s perfect purpose for not so perfect me! Thank you!
I loved today’s devotion. My daughter is dealing with a recent breakup and was having a bad evening last night. As the evening went on she seemed to be getting short with her 3 year old daughter and me. I pulled her aside and explained to her that I understand she’s going through a rough time but that she shouldn’t take it out on the people that love and care for her especially her daughter who is too small to comprehend whats going on but realizes that things have changed. I encourage her to open up to me any time she feels the need to talk. A little while later, she came into my room and apologized. It seemed that when she sat down and reflected on the evening she realized what happened and asked for forgiveness and patience. The holy spirits conviction was obvious. I know we could all benefit emotionally and spiritually from a copy of your book , please enter us in the drawing.
Good stuff needed this today
Wow, I could so relate. Especially the beginning story. I have had many days where I have struggled with that.
Wow. This was exactly what I needed to hear today. I struggle so much with self-doubt and am always trying to be “good enough” on my own. It’s like a constant battle in my mind to rely on God and walk in His freedom instead of trying to be in control, which leads to feeling like a failure and doubting whether or not I can even do this whole “walking with God” thing. I would love to win a copy of this devotional book. I am so in need of a fresh perspective and a new outlook. For too long I have continued to stay trapped in the cycle of self- doubt, and for too long I’ve been relying on myself and other people to take that doubt away and fill me with confidence. I really feel like I would benefit from reading this book, and since we are on a tight budget with no room for extra spending, it would be a wonderful blessing and treat if I were to win a copy.
Thank you Renee and P31 ministries for caring about women enough to share your struggles and your encouragement with us! So blessed by this ministry!
I feel like I blow it often with my children. I end up feeling like I am not cut out to be a mom. I apologize and we hug and kiss and things are good, until the next time I blow it. I’m really trying to work on reacting with a positive attitude.
I enjoy reading your devotions and I realize that they are always timely. Must be a God Thing!
Thank you and Bless you!
Loved this devotion and also reading the responses of my sister’s in Christ. This goes along with the theme of the year the Lord has been sweetly whispering in my ear that His grace is sufficient. It also left me with a bit of conviction about the way I respond to my family at times. I myself need to offer more grace. Thanks again.
I am praying that I will extend mercy as God has extended mercy. I want to extend mercy to people (parents who lie incessantly!). It is so hard to be obedient to God’s commandment to “honor your mother and your father”. His commandment to “Not Lie” holds some weight too. Urgh … only God knows how my spirit is grieving.
I really needed that. I’ve been really struggling lately with many things going on in my life. My boyfriend of 7 years, with a severe addiction problem (he is going to get help) has not been easy to deal with and I definitely haven’t handled things the right way. My temper has really taken over because I’m having trouble cooping with the problem. I felt everything was my fault, no matter what I did right.
Things got pretty bad and I almost completely lost faith in God while wondering why I could feel so hurt and lost . Until I read this and the Proverbs 31 Devo. Thank you so much. This was exactly what I needed to hear today.
I read both this devotion, plus the one on Proverbs 31 today. They are both excellent, but I have to confess that reading the one about your ruined day of writing, stressed me out and I began to feel angry. I think it touched a nerve for sure. Haha! Thank you for your transparency.
I felt like I was reading a memory from my own life! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. May The Lord continue to bless you.
Your devotional today really resonated with me. It seems that when I am preparing for leading a conference or Bible Study, that’s when life starts crashing around me. Such is the case this week as I plan to lead a conference at a ministers wives retreat. I don’t know what God has planned to do through me & in me at the retreat this weekend, but it must be something big!
GUILTY!!! Thank you for your transparency!!! Wow!!! I can totally relate….
GODS timing is so perfect. TODAY was the day-feeling like this was just for ME.
God Bless!!!
I have been struggling lately with frustration and knowing if I was still able to be used. This post really touched me today. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! Thank you so much, i really needed that today! I am always so hard on myself when I slip up or have a bad day. I am in constant need of being reminded that I God is not as hard on me as I am, that He loves me regardless and wants to still use me for His glory!
Thank you for that reminder.
I loved your devotion today. I use condemning statements to myself but I am going to try (with God’s help) to recognize them and turn to the Lord instead, who loves me no matter what. I need to learn how to recognize convicting words from Him instead. Thanks for your encouraging words today.