Clean Conviction
“My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing words of shame” quotes Sarah Evans in Jesus Calling. There’s been (or is about to be) a sin, an infraction . . . a screw-up – something done or said out of selfishness or judgment or thoughtlessness. We think “I shouldn’t have said that.” “That was so insensitive of me.” “I owe her an apology.” That’s conviction from the Holy Spirit of God living in you. That ‘still small voice’ that doesn’t even need words to communicate. His thought becomes your thought. Now it’s about obedience and taking action.
That’s clean conviction. That’s what our perfect Father does . . . that’s how He corrects. “No, that’s not the right thing to do. What does Love require of you right now? That’s my will.” “Call him back and confess. Apologize.” Our peace, our faith, our spiritual growth moves forward or backward depending on our obedience to His conviction.
His direction is personal, but His correction isn’t. When I make a mistake, I usually address myself with something like “You idiot! What were you thinking? What kind of bozo does that?” Personal accusations, demeaning words, all connected to my shame . . . pointed to the lies I’ve believed about who I am.
When God sees us, He sees us as who we are in Christ. He doesn’t see an idiot. He doesn’t even see a ‘sinner saved by grace’. He sees His son, the beloved, forgiven, sinless son or daughter Jesus died for. The sin we’ve committed? That came from the evil one. He’s a waste. His fate is sealed. All his crap is futile in the long run but it still causes a lot of pain and damage in the here and now.
Remember, shame is believing lies about who you are. Because you yield to the enemy in a moment of weakness or confusion or hurry doesn’t change who you are.
Clean conviction is how God points to what you did and what needs to be done to repair it. There is no rejection . . . “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
What about guilt? It’s the human emotion that rises up when we perform below what we think is perfection. Guilt makes makes us feel bad about our mistakes. But it’s the playground of the enemy; he subverts guilt that leads to conviction into guilt that leads to self-condemnation. That’s the guilt that paralyzes, leads to self-pity, low self-esteem and a sense of unworthiness. It’s from Satan. Shake it off. Forgive yourself. Move on.
Clean conviction motivates. It’s from God. Obey His voice. Take responsibility. Repent. Do a ‘180’. Fix what you’ve broken the best you can and move forward to the life God wants you to have in Him.
Prayer – “Lord I want to walk with you. You came and took all my guilt and shame to that Cross so I could live free. Please speak conviction loudly into my spirit so my dim ears will hear you. And give me the courage to act . . . to believe you when you assure me of your 100% love and forgiveness . . . even for the things I’ve failed at today. In your beautiful name I ask this. Amen”
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Responses (13)
Critical good news! A great reminder for me, a Christian of almost 40 years, who just recently grasped this TRUTH!
Isn’t this amazing news? Amazing grace? I’m so happy for you Richard. 40 years is a long time but ain’t it great to ‘get it’?
I pray the rest of the church can someday grasp this Love. It would change everything.
Amen brother Regi. You’re doing a great work – stay in the fight!!
Regi,
You have captured something that is very important and also unusual. God’s voice is clear and unmistakable but it’s also direct and not shaming. Clean conviction is a great term. Thank you!
Stole it from Sarah Evans. She’s pretty good to steal from.
Wow, what a powerful thought about conviction. Thank you. I will share it with my friends, Ike Newingham
Thanks Ike.
Good words Regi! God laid this on me a couple years ago…Condemnation leads to a lesser view of me. Conviction leads to a greater view of God.
Love it
This one on Clean Conviction has been saved in my notes. No more can I refer to myself in such negative terms! Thank you!
It’s all Him. Thanks for reading
Hey Regi, I watched the movie Crackerjack and sorry, but I just didn’t get it.
Please explain.
Glad to explain . . . at least what I got. But it would help me if you could be a little more specific. C.J. is the proto-typical American non-christian. Drifts along, lacking commitment, abandoned by his father, doesn’t feel like he measures up. God uses his girlfriend and his mentor Paul to hold a mirror up to him. Near the end, when he’s running away and all the voices are replaying the tapes of worthlessness and failure, he finally stops the car, remembers what his mentor told him about letting God love him . . . receiving that love. He climbs on top of the Firebird, and symbolically, let’s God’s love flow over him. That’s his surrender to the love of God (through Jesus, although that part is implied) It changes his life, he steps up and takes responsibility for the baby he’s fathered, marries his girlfriend and grows up. He’s not a part of a church (men’s group) who loves him and helps him. The “Pedro” figure represents God and the Holy Spirit, showing up unexpectedly, convicting, pursuing him even when he’s not pursuing God. Questions?