Day 8

John 8:11

She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.

Shame has been part of the human story since the very beginning. In Genesis, when sin enters the world, shame follows immediately. The instinct to hide is not new. It has been with us from the start. When people are exposed, the fear of condemnation can feel overwhelming, and the desire to cover up or deflect becomes strong.

In John 8, Jesus steps into a moment filled with accusation. A woman is brought before Him, her sin exposed publicly, her future hanging in the balance. What stands out is not only what Jesus says, but what He refuses to do. He does not accuse her. He does not condemn her. He silences the voices of shame and creates space for grace.

That truth matters deeply. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Grace is real. Forgiveness is real. Our identity in Christ is secure. But Jesus does not stop there. His grace is not passive. After removing condemnation, He invites transformation. Go, and from now on sin no more. Mercy restores her dignity, and truth calls her forward.

In our modern moment, it can be tempting to emphasize one side of that exchange without the other. We celebrate freedom from condemnation, and rightly so. But grace was never meant to ignore sin. It was meant to confront it with love. Jesus does not expose to shame. He exposes to heal.

This is where fasting becomes such a gift. Fasting creates space for honest evaluation. It is part of the emptying of ourselves before God. As we deny our flesh, distractions quiet down. Defenses lower. We become more aware of what is really going on beneath the surface. Not so we can condemn ourselves, but so we can invite God to do His work.

God never empties us to leave us empty. He empties us so He can fill us again. When we come to Him honestly, grace meets us first, and transformation follows.

As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, allow yourself to pause and evaluate honestly before God. Receive His grace fully. And trust that the same Jesus who says there is no condemnation also walks with you into real change.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for grace that meets us in our brokenness and love that calls us forward. As we fast and pray, help us evaluate our lives honestly without fear. Empty us of what does not belong, and fill us again with Your truth, Your strength, and Your life. We trust You to restore and renew us. Amen.