The Holy Spirit Speaks to Our Spirit
Adapted from Hearing from God Each Morning
And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment.
The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit to convict us of sin and convince us of righteousness. His conviction is intended to convince us to repent, which means to turn and go in the right direction rather than in the wrong direction in which we are currently going.
Conviction is entirely different from condemnation. It took me a long time to learn that, and as a result, I erringly became condemned every time the Holy Spirit convicted me of something in my life that did not align with God’s will. Conviction is meant to lift us out of something, to help us move up higher in God’s will and plan for our lives. Condemnation, on the other hand, presses us down and puts us under burdens of guilt. Feeling a healthy shame or guilt when we are initially convicted of sin is normal. But, to continue to feel guilty after we have repented of the sin is not healthy, nor is it God’s will. In the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:9–11), Jesus proves that condemnation only leads to death, but conviction delivers us to a new life free from sin.
Since God does not condemn us, we can fearlessly pray: "Lord, show me my sin. Convict me of anything I am doing that breaks your law of loving others or that keeps me from doing your will. Keep my conscience tender to your voice. Give me power to be free from sin, amen." Living in this way will increase our sensitivity to the voice of God in our lives.
Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, please speak to my spirit. Convict me of anything that is not Your will, keep me from condemnation, and lead me into freedom and a new life in You, amen.
