Scripture to Read: Psalm 51:3–5
David was allowed by God to share the incredible brokenness David was going through over his sin. God allowed David to write in Psalm 51:3–5, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Again, David’s sin was heavy upon him. One of those reasons is because Satan is called “the accuser of our brethren” in Revelation 12:10. Satan and the spiritual forces of darkness love to remind us of our past. But another reason David’s heart was heavy was from the conviction of God’s Holy Spirit on him. Conviction is good, for God’s conviction brings us to repent of our sins. Though we, as Christians, have been fully forgiven of our sins (past, present, and future), we must still repent when we sin and confess (1 John 1:9) our sins to God to stay in right fellowship with Him. But condemnation is not from God and robs us of God’s peace. Condemnation leads us to a life full of guilt and shame, and that is not from our Heavenly Father. We, like David, know we are sinners born into sin. But the Good News is that through Christ, we are set free from our sinful nature (Romans 6:8–14) so that we are slaves of Christ and no longer slaves of sin.
Challenge & Application
· When God’s conviction comes into your life due to your sin, how should you deal with your sin from what you learned today?
· How have you overcome when the spiritual forces of darkness have tried to defeat you through shame and guilt?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!