I’m standing at the kitchen sink loading dishes into the washer. From out of the corner of my eye I notice a small movement to my left. I look down to see my beagle-basset with her tongue mid-motion in a sneaky attempt to lick a dirty spoon.
As soon as she sees me looking at her she retracts her tongue, drops her ears and looks at the ground. “That’s right,” I say, “You know better.” She sheepishly wags her tail in acknowledgment.
My dog has a conscience.
So do I.
So do you.
And a conscience can be enormously helpful, especially when we’re young. It’s not just an imaginary inner voice. It’s an actual part of the brain believed to be located in the prefrontal cortex (the part that helps us make decisions). It records what we learn about “right and wrong” so that we know what’s required in different situations. But there’s a catch: our conscience is fallible.
What I mean is this: since the conscience learns through experience it varies based on both our biology and background. Some people have consciences that rule their lives with an iron fist. And we’ve all seen sociopaths on the news who seem to have no conscience at all.
When we give our lives to Jesus, he wants to redeem all of us–including our conscience. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” {Rom. 12:2}
This happens through the Holy Spirit.
So here’s a life-changing truth: Your conscience and the Holy Spirit are not the same thing.
There seem to be two types of consciences that naturally occur in us {based on 1 Cor. 8}.
The first is a weak conscience that’s overly sensitive. If you have a weak conscience you have a tendency to: live under the law, feel guilt, experience fear of punishment, be overly cautious, try to live up to standards beyond what God requires.
The second type of conscience is an insensitive one. If you have a tough conscience you have a tendency to: indulge in sin without remorse, disregard the feelings of others, break rules and take unnecessary risks, rebel against the standards that God requires.
So our role is to bring our conscience into alignment with the Holy Spirit. That means when a thought related to values {ex: how you’re treating someone} comes to mind we need to do what the verse above says: “test and approve” it.
We can ask ourselves these three questions…
- What is the source of this thought? It may be from our upbringing, an authority figure, or a past experience.
- Does this thought align with the truth of Scripture? If not, what needs to be adjusted so that it does? Most of our thoughts contain some grain of truth. When the enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he used Scripture but distorted it. We need to proactively evaluate our thoughts to sort what’s true from what’s not.
- What is the action God wants me to take based on the truth, regardless of how I feel right now? As we make decisions based on what’s true we actually retrain our conscience so over time it becomes more and more synced with the Spirit.
Think of your conscience as a bit like my beagle-basset. It can be a good friend and a loyal companion who walks through life with you. But it’s up to you to train it with wisdom and kindness so it can thrive and bring joy to its beloved master.
And your Master too.
Great post Holley! Heaven knows I work daily to let go of erroneous thinking and bring it into accord with Truth, God.
Holley, Thanks so much for always being real, vunerable and bring God’s word into the situation… soooooo many times your sharing speaks and encourages my soul.
Confirmation on what the Lord is whispering to me. Keep being courageous warrior princess.
I love the warrior princess idea! We are both warriors and princesses in Christ, but I’ve never put them together before.
Thanks, Holley.
The Day I realized that my Savior, Yahshua, died for ME and that
He is the only One Who would do that, I set out to please both
He and His Father (mine, now, too) for the rest of my earthly
life. What a privilege to be Yahshua’s sister and have the
same Father! I love them! And to know my sins (not being
able to keep all of the requirements of the Father perfectly)
are covered by the Blood makes me want to please the Son
and my Father even more and get to know them more by
reading the Word and communing in prayer by the Spirit.
What Freedom and Joy this is.
I so appreciate this post. I’m definitely of the weak, over-sensitive conscience, and it can lead to lots of feeling of guilt and inadequacy. I love how you suggest we test our thoughts and actions, and I’ll be working to put your three questions to the test when I sense I’m reacting wrongly.
I like your three-question test.
And what a privilege to team up with the Holy Spirit as God’s Word renews our mind and sets us free from a guilty conscience!
Love you, Holley!
Thanks for being Christ’s friend and ambassador of truth!
Holley,
Once again, your words spoke right to my heart. Being one with an overly sensitive conscience sometimes, I have to pray and work to keep my conscience in sync with the Holy Spirit. Thanks for the reminder to “test and approve” my thoughts!!
Have a great day…
In Christ,
Bev
Holley, You hit the nail on the head!!!! I am the “oversensitive” type and am dealing with a “tough” type person in my life. Thru my trust and faith in Jesus I am getting the God Conscience more and the “Me Conscience” less….Thanks for being “there” and HERE for me. God Bless You!
Konnie
Dear Holley,
Thank you for this post.
When I got to the part where you mentioned the life changing truth- my conscience and the Holy Spirit are not the same I was taken aback. I have always thought they are the same. Now I know the truth.
I have this illustration to share. I’v heard that some ladies who grew up in strict Christian families even when they are legally married often feel guilty about sex. God gave sex as a gift to married couples so the guilt is definetly not from the Holy Spirit.
Your message today, Holley, really makes my day! How often I have had to ‘sort out things’…and wondering if I’m the only one out there needing to do this. It is SO comforting to know that the growing in Christ never stops for us as long as we’re on earth. No matter how old we are, new circumstances (and even ones that we’ve encountered before) require Christ’s outlook and a renewal of our mind. Thank you for pointing this out today and helping all of us to remain calm and steady in following our dear Lord. Thanks once again for your words of help.
What a great post, Holly. The ladies Bible Study group at my church is doing Priscilla Shirer’s study, “Discerning the Voice of God”. Your post went so well with our chapter last week! Thank you. I linked it on our Bible Study FB page!
Holley,
Thanks for this post! I like the 3 questions. These will help me to align my conscience with the Holy Spirit.
You hit the nail on the head! Blessings to you! Your puppy looks so sweet!
So good! Thank you for sharing. I just finished reading Corinthians in the month of January, and Chapter 8 really stood out (once again!). Thank you for breaking it down even more simply!
I find your scripture about renewing our minds so we can test and approve what God’s will is so helpful. I thought our conscience was always right and was evidence of the Holy Spirit convicting us. Now I realize our life experiences can train our consciences. Ro.8:1 says there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..so for those of us with an overly sensitive conscience it’s great to be reminded that GOD LOVES US! Take it to the bank. Count on it.
Wow, I hadn’t realized that a conscience needed to be brought into alignment with God’s will and the Holy Spirit’s work, just like everything else in our lives. Thanks for this post, and thanks for the three-prong test. Romans 12:2 just achieved new meaning for me.
Thank you for your teaching. This is so applicable to all of us. Lovely to think more about.
good instruction… Thy Word O Lord is a light for my feet… May our conscience be built on the heart of God <3
So wise Holley! So like our feelings, our consciences can’t necessarily be trusted. Can I come meet with you once a week?
You are a blessing!!
I’ve never thought of a conscience as being in need of redeeming. Yet, how true it is! My weak conscience can really take me to task over things that God would not.
Such a freeing post! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this great post and once again your words spoke to my heart. Holley. You make each day special for me with the e-mail daily devotions. Your dog is so humble looking with eyes of love. Thanks again
This incident really happened in Kashmir about a year ago and was reported in the newspapers: For the first time in Indian history a judge summoned a dog to appear in the court. There was a dispute between 2 persons claiming ownership of the dog. The 2 claimants stood inside the court, while the dog walked in under the keen scrutiny of the judge. This dog went to one claimant, wagged its tail, licked his feet and was clearly happy to see him. Now the dog eyed the other claimant, approached him … and was equally happy to see this man too.
We know Whose we are. What a joy it is to be with our Master and love HIM through obedience and trust! Thanks Holley, bow wow.
Thank you so much for this article.It was just what I needed to hear.Was never sure when I felt the will of God or my conscience in my life. Ruth
Hi Holley!
Just heard a message about our conscience preached Wednesday night by our pastor…thanks for confirming what the Holy Spirit is teaching me!!
The world will be much beautiful and peaceful if every one is in concern with conscience. I do hope there will be conscience in governing everywhere and no trick. Thank you Holley,you teach me a lot!
George Kwong
I love what you write about, it seems like you always nail what I am in need to hear. I have a ‘weak’ conscience and fall heavily into guilt and fear of never measuring up. A little part of me is still convinced I’m sure there’s something in me that can exclude me from God’s grace. This post helps me head in the right direction in learning to discern God’s voice.