I’ve learned by experience that many Christians cannot distinguish the promptings of the Holy Spirit from the accusations of Satan. The difference is this: The Holy Spirit convicts us for sins that we have been unwilling to face in God’s presence; Satan makes us feel guilty for sins that are already under the blood of Christ — that is, for sins that we have already confessed. The Holy Spirit reminds us of our sins before we are cleansed; Satan continues to remind us of them after we are cleansed.
~Erwin Lutzer in the December 5, 2009 devotional reading from Our Journey
December 6, 2009
Voices in My Head: Discernment
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Thinking Out Loud 
Personal to Jeff W.
(Comment NOT posted)
Let me see if I’ve got this right. You’re trying to start a global movement but you’re having getting it off the ground because you don’t have a website; yet you’re posting comments on BLOGS?
Guess what, Jeff? Blogs are to websites what instant coffee is to Starbucks. Anyone can do this. You can promote your cause online without having to leave comments all over the internet attached to subject posts which have nothing to do with your issue.
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — December 7, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
Very true. I would add that the Holy Spirit leads us to godly sorrow and repentence, which leaves no regret. Also, the Holy Spirit always convicts us of things that we can do something about (say sorry, pay back, etc), but Satan only accuses us with general condemnations, such as “You’re stupid, ugly, etc.” In other words, the Holy Spirit offers constructive criticism, whereas Satan just piles it on to weigh you down.
Comment by Tyson — December 7, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
I agree 100%, but let’s take your comment one step further.
I was once taught that Satan’s strategy is to speak to us in the first-person, not the second-person. So instead of saying, “You’re stupid; you’re ugly…” the voice in your head will say, “I’m stupid. I’m ugly.”
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — December 7, 2009 @ 7:50 pm