Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.
Reading: John 16:8-11; Romans 8:1
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
When Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, it hardly sounded like good news. Most of us hear the word conviction and immediately think of guilt, shame, and rejection. That's because so many of our earthly relationships have taught us that when our failures are exposed, love is withdrawn.
But the Holy Spirit doesn't work that way. Condemnation points out your sin and pushes you away from Jesus in shame. Conviction points out your sin and draws you toward Jesus for grace, forgiveness, and transformation. Conviction is evidence that God has not given up on you. Like a loving Father, He warns you because He loves you too much to leave you where you are. His goal is never to make you feel worthless but to lead you from death to life.
When God exposes something in my life, do I tend to respond with shame and withdrawal, or with repentance and trust in His grace?
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
- Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).
- Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Holy Spirit, thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Help me recognize the difference between condemnation and Your loving conviction. When You reveal areas that need to change, draw me closer to Jesus instead of allowing shame to push me away. Give me a heart that welcomes Your correction because I know it always flows from Your love. Amen.
- Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.
Faith Steps:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one area where He has been gently convicting you.
- Instead of feeling condemned, thank Jesus for His grace and take one step of repentance today.