I sat across the table from this beautiful blue-eyed daughter of the king. Tears rolled down her face as she talked about her times praying and hoping that God would hear her prayer this time despite all she had done. My heart just sunk into my chest. Fear has this crazy way of transforming itself from the lie that we have wronged so badly we cannot be forgiven, into a deeper complex of being unworthy of God. The literal definition: “Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” Brown, Brené, The Gifts of Imperfection
In my opinion the reason shame is so destructive is because its singular purpose is to keep you from God's presence. It makes you believe you are not worthy of who God is. But in reality, shame CANNOT exist in God's presence because his perfect LOVE does cast out all fear. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. His Holy spirit comes and reminds us that above all, WE are LOVED, and NOTHING that we do can separate us from God's love. “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more." Isaiah 54:4 So you're battling shame, what now? Step one: IDENTIFY THE LIE! Step two: Combat it with God's truth. Yesterday, my good friend said to me that EVERY TIME he is feeling off in anything all he has to do is identify the lie, and speak God's truth to it. When it comes to shame or lies from the enemy in general, I feel that lies are always specific. And the beautiful thing about Jesus is, He is too! He knows everything about us. He knows us so intimately and He ALWAYS speaks to us in a way that we can be receptive to. So when the enemy's lies come, all that we have to do is look at them and say, "NOPE, actually I'm a daughter of the king... I confessed my sins and was forgiven, I have been made new, and I carry no shame because the blood on that cross was for me. All my sin and shame died there! So find verses that remind you of God's character in a specific issue and speak out life into the situation. The more you get in God's presence, the more you understand God's character. It not only helps you HEAR God's voice, but it also establishes Identity. When you know who God is, you in turn know who YOU are. When shame comes to tell you you're not worthy, turn your head to Jesus because there is Never a moment where God will not scoop you up as his child and just hold you. Our Father in heaven loves to pour out love on his kiddos. Lastly, when God says you're forgiven, HE MEANS IT! So when the enemy tries to bring shame around calling you by names that you don't identify with anymore, DON'T BELIEVE THEM. God's love makes us new. He clothes us in white and when he looks at us he doesn't see sin, he sees our hearts, passions, and the gifts he gives us. He looks upon us and it takes his breath away. So it's our job to believe him when he says it's done! When God breaks chains off our lives we need to leave them on the ground. When I was first struggling with shame, God would break chains off and then I would pick them up and carry them around. And when the right moment came, I would just reattach them. And God was like, "YOOOO! We don't have to keep doing this." I eventually started to separate God's truths over my life from the enemy's lies. When shame would come around, all that I would have to say is: "That's not my name." Shame and fear only call you what they knew you as--weak, unworthy, hurt, broken, fake, wrong, stupid, damaged, unforgivable, trapped, chained..... But that's not your name. Your name is worthy, loved, cherished, smart, capable, valuable, talented, changed, whole, healed, forgiven, and free! Let the Chains go, and change your name tag. PRAYER: Father, I just pray for a fresh outpouring of your love and spirit. I pray for your pure love to step into our lives and shatter ALL FEAR AND SHAME! I ask that you start to sing truths of who you are over our lives! Please bring your presence in and remind us what our names are. Remind us who we are and how loved we are. And I just bind the works of the enemy in Jesus's name. Shame must leave right now. The hurts of our past do not define us in Jesus's name!
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AuthorPerfectly imperfect artist, lover, musician, poet, worship leader, and above all daughter of the king of kings. Archives
December 2016
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