😊☀️👋🏻 Good morning, friend!

"Welcome to Day 1 of this week’s Daily Hope! I’m so glad you’re here as we take time this week to reflect on how God’s grace sets us free from guilt and gives us confidence in His love. Today, we’re diving into a topic we’ve all experienced: that nagging guilt that just won’t let go."

Personal Devotion:

📖 Today’s Word: 

“Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” 

— 1 John 3:19 (NLT)

💡 Heart of the Message: 

There are times when guilt can be absolutely overwhelming. You know that feeling—when you’re reminded of a mistake, an old sin, or something you regret, and suddenly, it’s all you can think about. You know in your head that God has forgiven you, but in your heart, the guilt still lingers.

What do you do in those moments when guilt won’t let go?

John tells us in 1 John 3:19 that our actions—the way we live—can give us the confidence we need when guilt tries to get the best of us. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean that we’re saved by our actions, but rather that our lives can reflect the truth of God’s work in us. When we live out our faith, walking in love and obedience, it’s a reminder to ourselves that we belong to God. We belong to the truth.

It’s easy to let guilt paralyze us, but this verse points us to a deeper truth: you are not defined by your past mistakes. When guilt tries to drown out God’s voice, look to the evidence of your life—how you’ve been changed by His love. Even on the hard days, when it feels like you can’t get it right, you can stand before God, confident that you belong to Him because His grace is greater than your guilt.

❓ Reflect and Respond: 

1. Digging Deeper: When guilt takes over, do you find it hard to believe that God truly forgives you? What keeps you from resting in His grace?

2. Applying the Text: How can your actions reflect the truth of God’s work in your life this week? What steps can you take to remind yourself that you belong to Him?

🎯 Live It Out: 

Today, whenever guilt sneaks in, take a moment to remind yourself of this truth: I belong to God. Let your actions reflect His love and His work in you. Show His love to someone around you and let that be a reminder that you are His.

🎶 Worship Through Song: 

Song suggestion: “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship.

You can listen to it here. This song is a great reminder that our identity is not in our past or our guilt, but in who God says we are—His children.

🔍 Dig Deeper in the Word: 

For further study, check out these related passages:

- Romans 8:1-2

- Hebrews 4:16

- John 15:7

🙏 Pray Back the Word: 

"Father, thank You for the truth that I belong to You. When my heart tries to condemn me, help me to remember that Your grace is greater. Guide me to live confidently, knowing that my identity is in You. In Jesus’ name, amen."

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Devotion: 

📖 Kids’ Verse of the Day:

“Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” 

— 1 John 3:19 (NLT)

💬 Family Devotion:

Sometimes we do things that make us feel bad inside. Have you ever done something wrong and felt like you couldn’t talk to Mom or Dad about it because you were scared of getting in trouble? Or maybe you felt so bad you thought you couldn’t even talk to God.

That feeling is called guilt, and while it’s okay to feel bad when we do something wrong, God doesn’t want us to stay stuck feeling guilty forever. You see, when we follow Jesus and ask God to forgive us, He wipes away all the bad stuff! He doesn’t hold it against us anymore.

1 John 3:19 tells us that we can be confident when we stand before God. That means we don’t have to be afraid or feel guilty. We belong to Him, and He loves us no matter what.

The next time you feel bad about something, remember that God is always ready to forgive you when you come to Him. You don’t have to hide from Him—He wants to help you! And even when you don’t feel like it, you can be confident because you’re a part of God’s family.

🗣️ Talk It Over:

- Ask your kids: Have you ever felt bad about something you did and were scared to talk to someone about it? How did you feel after someone forgave you?

- Explain how God’s forgiveness is even greater than that! When we follow Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid to talk to God. He loves us no matter what!

🎯 Family Mission:

This week, as a family, think of one way you can show love to someone in your neighborhood or at school. Maybe it’s baking cookies for a neighbor or helping a friend who needs a hand. Let’s live out the love of Jesus and show others that we belong to Him!

🎤 Sing Together:

“Who You Say I Am” is a great song to remind everyone in the family that we belong to God. Sing it together and thank God for His love and forgiveness.

You can listen to it here.

🙏 Family Prayer:

"God, thank You for loving us even when we make mistakes. Help us remember that we can always come to You when we feel bad. Thank You for forgiving us and helping us live in Your love. Amen."

❤️ Spread the Hope! 

If you enjoyed today’s devotion, would you please share it with a friend?

💬 Join the Conversation: 

What stood out to you in today’s devotion? How is God calling you to love sacrificially this week?

Hit reply and share your thoughts, or comment below if you’re on the web.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast: 

Want to go deeper? Listen to today’s Hope for the Mountainside podcast episode, where we unpack how to live out sacrificial love.

🔜 Tomorrow’s Preview: 

Tomorrow, we’ll explore how God’s knowledge is greater than our guilt and how we can rest in His grace.