Read 1 John 3:18–24

Today’s Scripture: For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20

A “condemning heart” is one that robs us of peace. An “accusing
conscience” is another way to describe it. Sometimes the heart accuses us wrongly, because it “is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). The answer to that question is “God understands the heart!”

We must be careful lest the Devil accuse us and rob us of our confidence
(Rev. 12:10). Once we confess our sin, and it is forgiven, we need not allow it to accuse us anymore.

We should not treat sin lightly, but we should not be harder on ourselves
than God is. There is a morbid kind of self-examination and self condemnation that is not spiritual. If we are practicing genuine love for
others, our heart must be right before God, for the Holy Spirit would not
share His love in us if there were habitual sin in our heart (Rom. 5:5).

When we grieve the Spirit, we turn off the supply of God’s love (Eph.4:30—5:2).

Something to Ponder
In what ways does the Devil accuse you and rob you of your confidence?
What does it take to regain that confidence?