A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 5Sample

How Do You Keep a Clear Conscience?

Feeling guilty or ashamed can cause us to lose our happiness. And since you can’t feel guilty and be happy at the same time, you need to get rid of guilt and maintain a clear conscience to be happy.

Philippians 2:15 says, “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” (NLT).

You might say, “I’d like to be happy, but how do I keep my conscience clear when it’s not clear right now?” Do what Psalm 32:1-2 says: “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record” (TLB).

Happiness, joy, and relief are three things everybody is looking for. We all want to be happy. We all want to enjoy life. We all want relief from our pain. The Bible says it all comes from purity, and purity comes from forgiveness through God’s grace.

So how do you keep a clear conscience?

At the beginning and end of each day, do a spiritual inventory. Talk to God about anything standing between you and him, and then release the frustrations from your day.

When we confess our sins, “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Talk It Over

• What do you need to talk to God about today so that you can clear your conscience?


• How can you restructure your life to make time each day for a spiritual inventory?


• How are you living as a “bright light” in the world for Jesus Christ? What does your happiness in Christ say to the rest of the world?

If you’ve never placed your trust in Jesus, now is the time to do it. To find out how, watch this video where I share: “What Does It Mean to Follow Christ?”

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

This reading plan selection is Part 5 of the five-part series, A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t.