--- title: "The Root Beneath Every Sin | The Tree Church" url: https://thetree.church/blog/2026/08/11/the-root-beneath-every-sin description: "Jesus gives an unexpected definition of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts" lang: en --- 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ Blog (https://thetree.church/blog) Take 20: https://thetree.church/blog/category/take-20 # The Root Beneath Every Sin August 11th, 2026 by Tree Church Everyday Image: The Root Beneath Every Sin (https://base44.app/api/apps/6ac2bb755fa612c2228960ca/files/mp/public/6ac2bb755fa612c2228960ca/8916c0877_18228690_1024x1024_2500.jpg) Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time. Reading: **John 16:8-10; John 15:5** 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. ** Jesus gives an unexpected definition of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts "because they do not believe in Me." Beneath every sinful action is a deeper issue of trust. We choose our own way because, in that moment, we believe our wisdom is better than God's. Whether it's how we handle conflict, our finances, our sexuality, our time, or our relationships, every act of disobedience begins with believing that something other than Jesus will satisfy us more. ** **The Holy Spirit doesn't simply point out bad behavior. He lovingly exposes where we've stopped trusting Jesus and invites us back into dependence on Him. Conviction isn't about proving you're a failure—it's about reminding you who is trustworthy. Every conviction is an invitation to believe Jesus again.** ** Where in my life am I trusting my own wisdom or the world's promises more than I am trusting Jesus?** Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer… 1. 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). 2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: **Father, forgive me for the places where I have trusted myself more than I have trusted You. Thank You that Your Spirit gently leads me back to Jesus instead of leaving me to wander. Strengthen my faith so that my decisions flow from confidence in Your goodness rather than confidence in myself. Amen.** 3. 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:** 1. Identify one area where you have struggled to trust God and surrender it to Him in prayer. 2. Choose one practical act of obedience today that demonstrates trust in Jesus over your own understanding. Posted in Take 20 (https://thetree.church/blog/category/take-20)Conviction (https://thetree.church/blog/tag/conviction)trust (https://thetree.church/blog/tag/trust)