I'd been looking over parts of my life lately and continually kicking myself for areas where I'd messed up. I know God gave me a promise in one particular area of my life that hasn't been fulfilled yet, and stupidly, I keep trying to make it happen on my own. Then, when I inevitably make a mess of things and end up hurting myself, and and sometimes others, I start condemning myself and that makes it so much harder for me to draw back closer to God.

Today, though, I saw a great message online reminding me of the difference between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin to bring us to Him. satan tries to condemn us to keep us away from God. the enemy wants us to think that this time we've just messed up too badly for God to want us back. But God is truly a God of many chances.

Every time I condemn myself I am just giving satan the power to speak into my heart and change how I view myself. he may want me to believe that I am used goods, too dirty to be worth anything. But to God, I am His beloved. The one He sees as flawless through Jesus.

The ASV version above says he rejoices over us, the NIV says He delights in us. It doesn't say anything there about Him loving me only when I haven't messed up or if I spent an hour in prayer and devotions that day. No matter what, He just loves me. He doesn't want me to condemn myself or beat myself up when I fall.

I have to remind myself that He is good, loving Father who knows children fall; they break things; they make messes. The important part is when that happens to not run away and hide, but to run straight into His arms and let Him comfort me.