I designed the Believe & Speak podcast to help you replace negative thoughts with positive declarations of truth. Today’s truth gives us hope when we’ve messed up.

You and I have an advocate, and he pleads our case before the Father when we confess our sins. When Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous, tells our Father in heaven that you belong to him, that you have been covered by his blood and your sins have been atoned for, God responds with mercy and grace. He clears you of all guilt because his beloved Son already paid the price.

If you desire a greater sense of belonging, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my new book, Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance. It’s available for purchase on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and Christianbook.com. It’s also available for download to your Kindle or from the Apple store for your iBooks app. Or visit my website to purchase a copy at shawnamariebryant.com

Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance is now available for purchase on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and Christianbook.com. It’s also available for download to your Kindle or from the Apple store for your iBooks app. Or visit my website to purchase a copy at shawnamariebryant.com

This week's scripture:

1 John 1:5–10, 1 John 2:1–2