I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.--Isaiah 61:10, AMPC

"Relax in God's faithful love," the female minister told me over the phone years ago.

"Relax! How can I relax!" I protested.

Now, over a decade later, I am learning to relax in God's faithful love. I've had to overcome a lot of condemnation.

As true Believers in Christ, we only measure up to God's holy Standard because of our faith in the true Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ, and what His blood did for us on the cross to pay for our sins. We have to guard against condemnation--not being good enough, guilty--and yield to conviction. Here are some tips on how distinguish them from each other.  

Condemnation always comes from the enemy, for he is the condemned. (God never meant for us to experience any evil, which definitely includes fear. He created a beautiful, peaceful, positively productive Garden (life) and blessed humanity. Genesis 1) He is the one who chose, with his free will--after he was perfectly created as a good and powerful angel by the Most High God, Jehovah, the Father of Jesus Christ our Savior. Condemnation has a root of fear, and makes us feel (if we let it) like we are unworthy of God's (and people's) love; like we can never be good enough; never measure up; never get it right; not adding anything to the world; useless in life, etc. etc. etc., blah, blah, blah.  

These are all lies against those of us who are truly born again; who have truly asked the LORD to forgive us of our sins, and asked Jesus to cleanse and come into our hearts and be our Savior and LORD (John 3:15-17).

When we are following God in all the ways we know to, by reading and doing the Word; attending a Bible-believing church; praying to Him and making changes as He shows us; worshiping, and otherwise living with integrity, then condemnation is not part of our lives! 

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.--Romans 8:1-2, AMPC

We may feel conviction, which means the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, is revealing to us where we need to make changes in our lives, to be more like Christ. But this is a gentle, loving conviction, to help us be better and enjoy greater, more fulfilling life, and help others see Jesus! 

Knowing that, by what the shed blood of Jesus did--and that it is only by our faith in what the blood of Jesus did!--helps us know we are right with God, which is what "righteousness" is. 

Jehovah Tsikenu is the Name of THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS', found in the Hebrew in Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16, but not apparent in our English language bibles. However, just because we don't first know, see, or understand something, doesn't mean it's not there! Just like gravity and microwave rays, we don't see them, but they are very real!

How much more real is the power of the Holy Spirit, Who is God, for it is Him that translated us from the defeated kingdom of darkness and set us as royalty in the glorious, victorious Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of the LORD Jesus Christ, Who is God and forever God! Hallelujah!

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own ^a]">]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.--I Peter 2:9, AMPC

Once we are truly born again--meaning, the moment we truly believed in our need for Jesus and that He is the only Savior, and spoke our belief out of our mouths--then we were made right with God, forever!

12 Whereas this One [Christ], after He had offered a single sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 Then to wait until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet. 14 For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and  perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.--Hebrews 10:12-14, AMPC

Wow and Hallelujah!

‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."’ (Romans 1:16-17).

So if we are feeling condemnation--like we can never be good enough, no matter how much we achieve (Ask me how I know. I was a very high achiever in junior high, high school, college, and beyond, but never felt like I was doing enough. That is torment, and that is never from God! It has a root of fear, and fear is never from God! 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.--2 Timothy 1:7, AMPC

So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].--Romans 8:15, AMPC

If you're feeling condemned, here is one thing you can do: Read and quote these verses aloud, and tell the enemy to shut up in Jesus' name! Say out loud (this or something very like it) to yourself, "I am right with God, by my faith in the blood of Jesus alone--but that is everything! Thank You, LORD, for making me right with You!"

Righteousness is the opposite of condemnation, and the enemy lost his right standing with God when he rebelled against the LORD and deceived one-third of the holy angels. 

King Jesus will soon return! Will He find faith on the earth? He is looking for it; He expects us His children to believe in Him! 

I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? Luke 18:8, AMPC

Let us ask Him to help us to not fear 

73 That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly 75 In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives.--Luke 1:73-75, AMPC

Let us serve the awesome God with all our hearts and soul, body, and other resources. He has sworn He will never be angry with us again, for when Jesus died on the cross, all the anger of God at man's treason, and the destruction of the devil and sin, was paid for on the cross.

Let us thank Him that Jesus took the condemnation on the cross, and that when conviction (the realization we need to make a change, and that change is for our good; will positively help us!) comes, we'll know it's our dear Father helping us be more like Christ, for our best and His glory, so all may see and be drawn to Him, and escape the terrible junk coming upon the earth (which is NOT God's doing; it is the curse brought by man's rebellion and refusal to align with the LORD and His ways!)

It is finished! Hallelujah! All we have to do is choose to believe and receive Salvation--and the LORD helps us do even those! He is so good!

Let us be found "doing"--believing in Him/having faith, and doing His will, and rejoicing in the LORD always! 

Hallelujah!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.