Convicted, Not Condemned

A poem reflecting on the difference between shame and conviction

To build upon the essay I posted about hidden sin last month, I wanted to share this poem that focuses on what the conviction of the Holy Spirit means for us as believers in Christ.

La Rencontre by Jessica Lisse

You will fall short, that’s a given.
Yet, in Christ, you remain covered by the blood.
You’re still fully justified and forgiven. 

When shame tries to speak into your mind,
Remind it who you’ve been made new by.

On the day you were saved by Jesus,
Your transformation began;
You’ve been forever changed.

It’d be impossible to stay the same,
Your old self has been crucified with Him.

Your salvation can never be taken away,
No transgression could ever undo
The saving work He did for you. 

Now, the Holy Spirit dwells within,
Hence why you feel sorrow over your sin.
That grief doesn’t mean God’s not present,
It’s proof that He still is. 

Don’t allow yourself to be tricked
Into thinking conviction is a bad thing.
It’d be far worse if you could sin freely
Without feeling the effects of it.

When you feel convicted, 
Praise God for His loving guidance.

Be reminded that we’ve been called
To walk in righteousness, while remembering that
There’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

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This poem can also be found on pages 24-25 of my poetry collection Then, Now, and When.

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Prayer Requests

I believe that interceding for others is an essential part of being a Christ follower. After all, what better way to love someone than to pray for them? Because of that, I will now be including a prayer request section at the end of every post!

Please feel free to leave your name (if you’re comfortable doing so) and anything you need prayer for. Each week, I’ll intentionally set aside time to pray over these requests.

Send them here!