Short List

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

1 John 1:5-7

I believe the conviction of the Holy Spirit is one of the biggest blessings we have through Jesus Christ.  His conviction causes change and never condemnation.  Keeping a short list of sin is not only important but necessary to fulfill the two greatest commandments to love God and love others.  It takes a willing heart, denial of self and practice. 

My pastor once said "the mind is a dangerous playground, don't go in it alone".  I've often quoted this to my two teenagers.  When your mind is filled with the truths of God, the Holy Spirit is free to immediately identify the sin that enters it.  Because of his light, we see, we confess,  and we change.  Free! Now the enemy wants to convict us to condemn us.  He also, wants us to see and confess.  However, instead of being free he wants us to be bound to him through guilt, unforgiveness, bitterness, self pity; the list could go on and on. This long list will keep us in that sin cycle. Bound.  Keeping a short list simply means; allow the Holy Spirit reside and rule in your mind so that his light can reveal anything that sets itself up against God.  Confess it, release it and believe. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1: 8&9 As you walk in the light of his truth you are free to love.  You will

become other-centered and not self-centered allowing you to be useful in the hands of God.

My prayer for you godly mom is that today you will allow the Holy Spirit's conviction to minister to you.  I pray that as you do you will be able to teach your children to do the same.  I believe we can confidently do this because it's God's will for our lives.  Be encouraged today, He will do it; He is faithful.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him."

1 John 5:14&15