I Am Remade

God’s spirit will convict you, but His heart will never condemn you.  How do we know whether what we are experiencing is condemnation that comes from the Accuser, or the voice of conviction that comes from God?

 Condemnation sweeps across our thoughts with generalized statements- “Your such a failure,” “Your so hypocritical,” etc.  When it is the Accuser, the tone is condemning, questioning and confusing.  It leads to guilt and shame.

Conviction that comes from God will be specific.  It reveals a sinful action and attitude and instructs us on what we need to do to right the wrong.  He’ll give us steps to take to change behavior or attitude.  

 ~Instead of Your 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 are at work.  Tomorrow at lunch break, apologize for what you said and share a few things that are positive about her.

God uses conviction lovingly, to show us our sin and lead our hearts to repentance.

–Renee Swope “A Confident Heart”

A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Live in the Security of God’s Promises

We’ve got to get our “good enough” from Jesus.  When we belong to Him, we’re clothed in His righteousness, forever beloved and accepted; a constant recipient of His steadfast love and grace.

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North

There’s a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she’s wandered
And the shame she can’t hide

She says, “How did I get here?
I’m not who I once was.
And I’m crippled by the fear
That I’ve fallen too far to love”

But don’t you know who you are,
What’s been done for you?
Yeah don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade. 
Well she tries to believe it
That she’s been given new life
But she can’t shake the feeling
That it’s not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she’s rehearsed all the lines
And so she’ll try to do better
But then she’s too weak to try

But don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.

‘Cause this is not about what you’ve done,
But what’s been done for you.
This is not about where you’ve been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved. 
You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.