Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:18-20
Whenever our hearts condemn us...
These are John's words. He doesn't say, "if" our hearts condemn us, for condemnation is a foregone conclusion. But we don't have to stay there! We can choose to continue sinning, or we can choose to obey.
Too often, I choose to sin, so what does that make me? Am I not one of God's children? Is salvation something outside my grasp? These are the lies which the enemy wants me to believe. Always, he whispers, "You can't be saved if you would sin like that! Why don't you give up? Follow me instead..." When I hear these words, my heart condemns me. He knows my doubt: "Maybe he's right. May I should just quit."
In truth, the mere fact that my heart condemns me is a good sign. If I were not God's child, I wouldn't care about what I have done.
Lord, help me to see the truth. I put too much stock in feelings, and I almost always feel condemned. Help me to see the condemnation as a gauge. Without it, I would know I am lost. You know everything... EVERYTHING, and You choose to love me. Help me to choose love. Help me to choose righteousness. Help me to choose You!