Tag:

Shame

Living Free From Shame And Stepping Into Freedom Through Christ

by Sarah Crockett September 26, 2022

written by Sarah Crockett

Shame is one of the tactics the enemy uses to paralyze believers from stepping into their identity and calling. The sad reality is that many of those believers never step out of the shame the enemy has heaped on them and choose to stay stuck in the lies. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! Jesus, our Savior, saved us from all sin and death. Therefore, there is a way out of shame, through Christ, that is available to anyone who is longing to start living free from shame.

What Is Shame?

Brene Brown, and author and researcher, has spent years interviewing and collecting data on shame,

“Shame is that warm feeling that washes over us, making us feel small, flawed, and never good enough.”

“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.”

“Shame loves secrecy. The most dangerous thing to do after a shaming experience is hide or bury our story. When we bury our story, the shame metastasizes.”

“If you put shame in a petri dish, it needs three ingredients to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence, and judgment. If you put the same amount of shame in the petri dish and douse it with empathy, it can’t survive.”

It’s funny how Brene Browns research even points to biblical truth. Jesus is the Way (John 14:6) to start living free from shame. He is the way out of shame and the way into freedom.

Created In God’s Image

As mentioned above, Brene’ Brown’s shame research revealed that, “Shame is that warm feeling that washes over us, making us feel small, flawed, and never good enough.” However, the truth of the Word of God says otherwise! Even in the very beginning as God was creating the earth, it was the sixth day when He created man that He said it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). We are created in the image and likeness of God and what He creates is “very good”!

Psalm 139:13-14 NIV – “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

In the verses above, again we see that we are wonderfully made. This means that Creator of the universe took the time to knit YOU in your mother’s womb. It also reveals that He doesn’t make junk! When we begin to believe the TRUTH of who God made us and make HIs voice the loudest voice in our lives we can begin living free from shame.

Living Free From Shame By Putting Things In The Light

Isn’t it interesting that “shame loves secrecy” (Brene Brown)?! When we keep secrets we keep things hidden from others or, in other words, hidden in the dark. Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He calls us to live as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). Therefore, when we choose to live in the light there is no room for shame because shame thrives only in darkness.

James 5:16 NIV – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James 5:16 reveals another principle for killing shame by confessing to others. This is one more way you can put things in the light. This verse also has a promise attached to it. Think of it as a math equation…Confession + Prayer = Healed! When we confess our sins to one another shame loses its grip. Isn’t it amazing that when you apply the truth in the Word of God to shame it flees.

Who Does God Say You Are?

The world is constantly vying for our attention and affections. It wants to lure us into comparing ourselves to others and to seek after the lusts of the flesh, but the Lord has called us higher. There are just some of the truths about our identity in Christ and it is from this place that we can begin living free from shame:

1 Peter 2:9 NIV – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.“
1 John 3:1-2 NIV – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.“
Ephesians 1:4-5 NIV – “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will“
Ephesians 1:7 NIV – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace “
Romans 6:6 NIV – “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin“
Psalm 100:3 NIV – “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are his people, the sheep of His pasture.”
Ephesians 2:19 NIV – “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household“
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.“
Jeremiah 1:5 NIV – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”

What Now?

These verse are just scratching the surface. The Word of God has so much more to reveal about your identity in Christ. In order to start living free from shame it is imperative that we know who we are in Him. In order to do that you must read the Word of God and hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

Let this article be the jumping off point in your journey of living free from shame. Get into the Word of God every day. Spend time getting to know your Savior and the truth that will set you free (John 8:32)!

September 26, 2022 0 comments

Faith

The Road Beyond My Own Bolted Door: Healing From Pain

by Corine Channell May 24, 2021

written by Corine Channell

When my first book BEYOND THE BOLTED DOOR came out a month ago, I was so not prepared for the vast range of emotions I would have. I have gone from someone in pain who held back tears for years, to someone who cries every other 10 minutes! I hide within the confines of long naps. It feels like all those hidden, bottled up emotions were locked in an old wine bottle, stored in a dark, dusty cellar until that day when the 50 year old corkscrew flew off. I spilled out everywhere! THAT is the best way I have found yet to describe how I currently feel.

JOURNEY TO HEALING

I went through all that journey of backtracking into the cesspool of my hidden past, dealing with its ugliness, shame and effects on my life – it was too much of too much but I did it. I felt like I had to, to break it from being a curse that would come down through the generations of those I love the most. Now, it is done. I did it. And I am exhausted to the core of my soul. I have no more words. I have no smiles. I have no inspiration. I have no joy. I could sleep for days, weeks, months. So, now what. Well, I have learned that AFTER you heal from anything, you need therapy. After my knee replacements, physical therapy was a ‘have to’ in my healing. WHY would I think I could face my demons head on, slay them, and then just walk away like I hadn’t just battled for my life?

There Will Be Pain

When I had double knee replacement, they beat my old knees into smithereens – which means, they destroyed them. All the arthritis, all the decay, all the lameness, all the broken and fractured parts of both of my entire knees. I am SO glad I was NOT awake to witness that.
One week later, I ran in a 5K with my new knees and I won, as I outran every other runner – all 246 of them.
Kidding.
Of course.
I still have not run in a 5K.

Point being, I was in excruciating pain. I needed help. I needed physical therapy. I needed to do the same routine day after day, month after month of lifting my knees up and making them bend. It took a long time, not gonna lie. But little by little, my new knees made me feel like I was bionic; reborn even – like I had my teen knees back!

You know where I am going with this.

RECOVERY THERAPY

A dear friend said something so ridiculously simple to me as I tried to put my feelings into words to her – she said, “You need recovery therapy.” In writing my book, I did NOT realize that the road beyond my own bolted door would be unrecognizable to me. Our lives are governed by roads. Roads are pathways. They take us places. Simple concept, right? Except when we all of a sudden realize we are lost, and we have no idea which road is the right one. What if you spend your whole life backtracking to find the right road you should be on, or a detour you missed, or a new road that you never considered taking?

When you decide to get help for yourself, for whatever issue you have – whether physical or mental, it first comes with an admission that something is wrong – something is off. Then comes that stage of denial – I know something is wrong, but do I really want to know what it is. Do I really want to go through what will need to be done to get answers? Is the pain of healing really worth knowing the truth, no matter how dark and deep and terrible? We avoid truth because truth hurts. and it requires change. and it is out of our comfort zone. I mean, really – who says, bring on the pain!

Healing Is Painful

Healing is painful. Hear me. In fact, let me say it again – healing is painful. Anyone recovering from a surgery knows what I am talking about. Yes, you have new knees. Yes, your bone has been reset. Yes, you beat Covid. But there is an aftermath. And really, it is initially why we wait so long before we go see a doctor or get a diagnosis or start treatment. We KNOW it will change everything and we KNOW it will be painful. It seems easier to cover our eyes and ears and pretend everything is okay.

I was not prepared to heal from my shame and the burden of a secret carried for so long, and reappear as a stranger. Assuming, I thought I would know WHO I was when I ran into myself again. I really, really expected this. And THIS is NOT what happened. And THIS is why I have so much more to heal from, so I can share it with you. God has truly held me together and if there was ANY good in me to be seen or partaken of, well – it was only Him IN me. Somehow in all my dysfunction and PTSD and fear and shame, my ‘core being’ grabbed onto God and wouldn’t let go – or, He grabbed on to me and wouldn’t let ME go – or both! “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose in me.” (Psalm 57:2)

PAIN TO PURPOSE

I can see now though something I never considered. We have to be spilled out for God to use us! If I never tell my story, then I never can comfort someone who feels alone in their story. If I don’t let myself feel all the feels, where will empathy for others’ pain be born? Maybe this is where I begin to live out the words I spoke in faith, while I was facing my spill. “You will do everything you have promised; LORD, Your love is eternal. Complete the work that You have begun.” (Psalm 138:8)

For all of us facing any truth of a painful secret or a hidden burden, it is much like having a surgery. It is a Soul Replacement Surgery, done by Doctor Jesus (who, by the way, never leaves random tools behind or charges too much or forgets to check on your progress.) The truth WILL set you free. And it will hurt while you heal. But, you did it. May all the shame and blame and pain RIP as you get your life back, piece by piece, little by little, step by step. Beyond The Bolted Door

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) I have learned I can trust God with my heart and with the road I am traveling on beyond my own bolted door.

Beyond The Bolted Door

by Corine Channell April 7, 2021

written by Corine Channell

Whether you are a survivor of sexual abuse or you are still fighting your way out, the first thing you need to know is that YOU are NOT alone. There is life beyond the bolted door…

THE BOLTED DOOR

In my first published paperback book, Beyond The Bolted Door, I am sharing MY story in hopes that you will find the courage to tell YOUR story and to break through the bolted doors in your life.

There are SO many others throughout history who have stood frozen with terror at a door slammed and bolted shut in their face. This door represents secrets, shame, guilt, lies, pain, cover-ups, and devastation.

It took me 50 years to speak up on my own behalf, to finally see my own value and worth. I see my story as one of hope and survival but also a cautionary tale – where I beseech you to NOT wait as long as I did to defend yourself or tell your story or even be your OWN hero!

BOOKENDS OF LIFE

Beginnings and endings are the bookends to every life story. And the journey itself IS the chapters in between. We ALL have a story to tell. No one should ever carry the weight of a secret burden that crushes their soul and cripples their journey.

No one should ever feel their story is not worth telling or not worth hearing. Ironically, it is facing the truth of your painful story that sets you free FROM it. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

PAIN TO PURPOSE

My pain has transformed into a work of art now on display; light shines out from my broken places like sparkling glittery diamonds. My purpose has exploded in beautiful words of HOPE laughing in the face of darkness.

I no longer feel like the misplaced puzzle piece – NOW I FINALLY see my place and it is a perfect fit. My cocoon is long gone. I know WHO I am and where I belong. My healed heart beats for the abused, for the broken, the lost, the forgotten, the angry, the rejected, the misunderstood, the captive, the ones who feel hopeless and that life is not worth living – my heart beats for YOU. YOU are my WHY.

At the very least I hope to point you in the right direction of how to turn your pain into purpose, by sharing MY story – understanding that your story is YOUR journey, and will be deeply personal (and unique) to you in its unfolding and resolve. BUT God has set eternity in the human heart therefore we are eternal beings. Remember that. So, THIS life with all of its pains is NOT all there is. It is just our earthly journey, and our stories will live on long after we are gone. And THAT is really, the whole point to life; to find the purpose buried deep in the pain and to be awakened to our true value.

LEAVE A LEGACY OF HOPE

We all hope to leave behind something of worth that can not be silenced or shaken. So, in essence (which is THE most important element of something) we get to leave behind – ourselves, in story form. Our stories may have been silenced or suppressed, but as we together begin to rise up, the sound will be a mighty cry of triumph that will echo down through the ages.

COMING FORTH AS PURE GOLD

The strength of character and the fortitude of an unshakable faith is built into us IN the deep, dark trenches! Remember the word there…IN! When we are tried IN the furnace of affliction, we shall come forth as pure gold.

In conclusion, I get it! If we have been healed and changed, then it should be visible as a testament to God’s power made manifest IN and THROUGH us. Like the blind man who got back his sight and proclaimed, “I was blind but NOW I see!” I would assume that after being blind you would WANT everyone to know! Finally, once all the scales are off your eyes, you can NOW proceed with glorious intention and purpose to leave behind a lasting legacy that will endure and will remain.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

*Partial proceeds from my book will be used in conjunction with We Are Sons and Daughters Global, for further distribution of my book to other countries, to spread help and hope to others around the world who feel alone in their pain.

April 7, 2021 0 comments

Faith

How To Get Rid Of Guilt And Shame

by Jenna Winston July 27, 2020

written by Jenna Winston

My ability to let go of guilt and shame was not great to say the least. After drug addiction had led me to lying and stealing from those closest to me, it was hard to let the weight of it go. My kids didn’t want to talk to me or have anything to do with me. I had burnt every bridge. I had an encounter with God that changed everything when I was in rehab.

A Crazy Vision

Now, stay with me, God showed me a crazy unique vision. I share the full vision on my podcast, but in the vision, I was in a swimming pool full of butts. Every time Jesus tried to show me His love, I would say, “Yeah, but Jesus I stole. But Jesus I lied. But Jesus I manipulated. But Jesus I’ll still struggle with this.” I had a list of things where I constantly reminded God why I’m not good enough. Jesus told me, “You’ve created yourself quite the pool of butts!”

This vision really got my attention. There’s nothing worse than standing in a swimming pool seeing all the “buts” you’re holding on to that are keeping you from the Father’s love!

Jesus gave me an invitation that I know He wants to give you as well: “Once and for all this is it. All the ‘buts’ are right here. I am standing here telling you that I love you and I want to take your guilt and shame.” He told me, “When you choose to crawl out of this pool, it’s done. You’re leaving the guilt and shame behind.”

The Invitation To Step Into Freedom

If you’re hesitating at this invitation, it’s probably because you’re thinking something similar to what I was thinking. I believed the lie that if people I hurt didn’t see me suffering, then they wouldn’t believe I was sorry for the terrible things I had done. Or your lie might be that hanging on to the guilt and shame helps you make sure you don’t mess up again.

If you’re hesitating in leaving your guilt and shame behind, pray this prayer:

Jesus, we come before you and ask for forgiveness, and we choose to receive forgiveness. Lord, we break partnership with guilt and shame, and we command it to go. And Lord we repent for all the things we have picked up the responsibility of proving we are sorry instead of trusting you. That we tried to carry all on our own. Lord, we thank you for our friends and family. If there’s people that need to be restored to us, that You would give us the strength and ability to lay those relationships at your feet and trust you to bring it around. We thank you for that Lord in Jesus’ name.

When we choose to believe in the power of the cross and forgiveness, which takes our guilt and shame, and stop trying to prove ourselves, it sets us free to press into Jesus and keep Him as our focus!

Going Deeper

If you want to learn more about prophetic deliverance for yourself and others, check out my Live Teaching Intensive coming up on August 8th: How to Operate in Spirit-Led Deliverance

If you’re facing something that you want helping walking through into healing, you can book a session with me on my website: www.heartscaping.co

How To Overcome The Spirit Of Overwhelm

by Jennifer LeClaire July 20, 2020

written by Jennifer LeClaire

Sometimes life can be absolutely overwhelming. The enemy is an expert at coming in like a flood with crushing circumstances. And he brings disturbing thoughts that try to drown you in feelings of helplessness and even hopelessness. “Overwhelm” is an enemy I’ve fought many times over the years, and defeating it starts with understanding what it really is.

Merriam Webster defines “overwhelm” as: to affect (someone) very strongly; to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with; to defeat (someone or something) completely. Overwhelm also means: upset, overthrow; to cover over completely, submerge; or to overcome by superior force or numbers; to overpower in thought or feeling.

Of course, you can be overwhelmed simply from a natural perspective with too much work or too many facts or too much opposition. But the enemy likes to work in our naturally overwhelming circumstances to apply spiritual pressure. When that spiritual pressure mounts, too often we look for a way of escape rather than trusting in the Lord for His sufficient grace to meet the situation at hand.

David Understood Overwhelm

Don’t feel ashamed in your battle against overwhelm. David understood these feelings all too well. He once wrote, “My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.'” (Psalm 55:4-8)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished I could fly away and escape. Yes, this is the same David who ran to the battle line to defeat Goliath without a second (or fearful) thought. And this wasn’t the only time David felt overwhelmed. Another time he wrote, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2) And again, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.” (Psalm 142:3)

Steps To Overcome Overwhelm

The first step in battling overwhelm is to recognize it and acknowledge the situation you find yourself in. Denying feelings of overwhelm won’t help you conquer your flesh or the devil. Once you’ve acknowledged the reality of an overwhelmed heart, you can work with the Holy Spirit to get to the root of these feelings.

What is causing this overwhelm, really? Is the enemy blowing it out of proportion? Is it really as bad as it looks, or is this pressure demonic? Put your circumstances—and your emotions—into perspective. Is there anything you can do right now in the natural to relieve some of the burdens you feel? Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom in the midst of this trial.

panic-fear

God Is Not Overwhelmed

While you wait for this pure wisdom that comes from above, meditate on Jesus. Get your mind off the overwhelming circumstances and onto the Word of God. Pray for grace, strength, and whatever else you feel you need from Father at the moment. Remind yourself of His promises.

And remember David. When he was overwhelmed with Saul hunting him down and with Absalom trying to overtake his kingdom and with his baby son dying and with even his own sin, he always turned to God. Here is one of his prayers for help in troubling times that you may want to pray for yourself:

“I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord. I make supplication with my voice to the Lord. And I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see; for there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; no one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.’” (Psalm 142). Amen!

July 20, 2020 0 comments

Faith

Does Shame Rule In Your Heart?

by Justin Camp May 24, 2020

written by Justin Camp

“Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11). When God asked Adam and Eve that in the garden, there was another question underneath it: How do you even know about shame?

The answer, of course, is that it was the serpent—Satan—who encouraged Adam and Eve to rebel against God and allow shame to become central to the human experience. And that same old enemy is still at work, whispering to us now. He whispers accusation and condemnation. He whispers that it’s now us who God is ashamed of—you and me.

Made For Love

But that’s not at all what Scripture tells us. God made humans in love and for love, not in disappointment or for shame (Ephesian 1:3-5). He loves each of us “in the same way” that he loves Jesus (John 17:23). And because of his great love, he gave us free will. Standing in eternity, he’s always known each of us through and through—all the way to the end. He’s always known our frailty. Our foolishness. He’s always known we would abuse our freedom. He’s always known we would rebel and rebel and rebel.

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”
(Psalm 139:16)

Standing in eternity, God saw what we would do—and he made us still. He wanted to be in relationship with us still. He loved us still, outrageously.

No one can’t stop God from loving us. He does. It’s true. It’s a thing. If you were to plot his love on a graph, the line would be high and flat. It wouldn’t fluctuate over time; it would never swing in response to our actions, even our worst.

You couldn’t plot his love, of course. No one could draw a y-axis that high or an x-axis that long. No page, no screen could ever come close to depicting his love. It’s massive and relentless.

Just Receive

What we can do, though, is render ourselves incapable of receiving all that love. And we do that by allowing shame to rule in our hearts. That’s why pushing and promoting human shame is a scheme used so often by the enemy, even today. He uses the tactic because it’s effective. Shame, just like it did for Adam and Eve, makes us want to run and avoid God.

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

Shame encourages us to cut ourselves off from God. Shames makes us want to cut ourselves off from the source of all healing and help, all goodness and belonging.

Consider When Shame Entered Your Story

Spend a few minutes in solitude. When you’re ready, think back to a time when shame first crept into your life. Try to let your mind settle on a single moment. Try to recall a moment when the message came, perhaps through a well-meaning person, that you should be ashamed of who you are. Take plenty of time to imagine the particular situation, the exact circumstances. Now, imagine that you could speak to you back then. What would you say? If you could break into that long-ago moment and speak to that precious child, what would you want to tell him or her?

Lastly, consider this . . . Can you receive those same words into your grown-up heart today?

How To Survive As A Single Christian Woman

by GOD TV August 13, 2019

written by GOD TV

Being a single Christian woman in today’s society can have its challenges…but there is hope! One of the biggest reasons being a single Christian woman is often a struggle is because of shame. Shame, we all know the feeling…the one that makes you cringe on the inside. In the life of a single Christian woman, the mere thought of singleness often evokes the warm wash of shame.

According to Brene Brown, “Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It’s the fear that we’re not good enough”. Mix shame in with a woman’s status as single and you have a recipe for depression and self-hatred. Shame is a liar! As single Christian women, we don’t have to buy into the images, standards, and expectations of the world we live in. After all, we are not of this world. We live in a different Kingdom and in the Kingdom of God love reigns!

There is hope for living fully alive…as a single Christian woman! In her teaching, Brene Brown shares the antidote to shame, which is love. Our ability to be loved and receive love is not dependent on our relationship status on Facebook or Instagram. We are worthy of love and acceptance from ourselves and others right now!

Single Christian woman, you are going to make it…

Pastor John Gray of Relentless Church challenges every single Christian woman to “learn to walk like a wife and not like a girlfriend.” Pastor Gray, now the leader of Relentless Church, served many years alongside Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He has often appeared on GOD TV.)

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” – Proverbs 18:22 This verse is a great encouragement to all single Christian women, looking for a husband.

You may keep on asking God about your future spouse, but tend to forget about developing yourself as the woman God wants you to be.

Pastor Gray believes that a wife is not the presence of a ring. It’s the presence of character. “Carry yourself like you are already taken. When you carry yourself like a wife, a husband will find you but if you keep walking like a girlfriend, boys will play with you.”

While you are still single, spend your time studying God’s Word and grow as His beloved Princess. Spend time with Him and discover your true identity in His presence. A woman who knows her identity in the Lord will never be shaken. You are beautiful. God created you to be unique. You deserve a husband but remember to walk like wife first!

Let’s thrive in our seasons of singleness!

August 13, 2019 0 comments

Articles

The Sure Way to Heal the Shame of Your Struggle

by Kyle Winkler August 7, 2019

written by Kyle Winkler

Removing the Muzzle of Your Struggle

Watch this video on YouTube

Just before penning his now-famous advice to the Corinthians about the weapons of our warfare, Paul confessed, “Indeed, we live as human beings” (2 Cor. 10:3, NRSV). This seems like an obvious admission. But Paul’s words here contain perhaps a reality we Christians don’t like to concede. Yes, we live as humans, and so, we all deal with human things from time to time: struggles, temptations and weaknesses. Issues to which, on this side of eternity, none of us are completely immune.

The Enemy’s Strategy of Shame

While this might seem counterintuitive to how he usually works, the enemy would rather you not know this. He’d prefer you to believe that after you’re saved, you shouldn’t struggle any longer.

As part of his great strategy of shame, the devil uses every slip up or confrontation by that all-too-familiar weakness to make accusations about who you aren’t or what you don’t have. “You’re not a real Christian,” “You don’t have enough faith,” or “You don’t pray enough,” he charges. With these, the enemy tries to silence you—to keep you quiet about your flaws, to influence you to put on a mask and pretend through pain. “Don’t tell anyone,” he urges. “Nobody will understand; they’ll reject you!”

The Muzzle of Struggle

As I explore in my teaching series, Shame Busters, the devil knows the powerful truth that healing often happens through the sharing of weakness (see James. 5:16). Accordingly, he uses a strategy of isolation to keep you shackled to the shame of your struggles.

Have you ever experienced this? I have. One of our first reactions when we’ve made a mistake or are feeling discouraged or depressed is to withdraw from people. We skip church or small group. We stop calling and texting. Our answers to the questions of family and friends become short and vague.

While it might feel good for a moment to lock yourself away, it soon only intensifies the issues. You are I were not designed to be alone. No, God made us for relationship. When we withdraw because of feelings of guilt, shame or the belief that “nobody else suffers like I do,” discouragement is only magnified, which in turn, leads us back to the same ole struggles, and on and on the cycle goes.

The Greatest Shame Buster

If you truly want to begin the process of healing the shame of your struggles, then don’t hide out. Ignoring is not the road to redeeming. Find someone you trust to take off your mask around and confess your faults. In doing so, you’ll realize you are not alone in your weaknesses, but you are just another human being dealing with human things. You’ll have somebody to pray for you and keep you accountable. Ultimately, though, you’ll experience perhaps the greatest shame buster: the reality that somebody who truly knows you, truly loves you.

[Want more shame-silencing truths? Check out my Shame Busters teaching series to discover 3 steps to live in peace with God and yourself.]

August 7, 2019 0 comments

5 Daily Truths That Will Silence Shame and Set You free!

Articles

A Daily Verse to Silence Shame For Good

by GOD TV May 18, 2019

written by GOD TV

Have you ever felt the overwhelming sense of shame that made you want to hide? Or maybe you feel disqualified to move forward because of what you have done in the past. These voices of shame can keep you down and define you if you let them. You don’t have to live this way, feeling locked in a prison that you can’t get out of. Don’t let the mistakes of your past become bigger than the God you serve. Jesus has overcome sin and shame for us so we could walk free in His grace and truth every day with no condemnation. Here is a daily verse for every day this week to live a life of God’s empowering grace. Meditate on a daily verse every morning and see how shame becomes silent as you start to declare the truth about your identity in Christ Jesus.

Daily Verse Day 1: Jesus took our shame

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-1 (NIV)

This daily verse in Hebrews 12 shares that Jesus took our shame so we could live free from any humiliation that would try to keep us back. Jesus bore the weight of sin and shame so we don’t have to! Therefore, we can run the race marked out for us with confidence just like this daily verse shares. God is bigger and more powerful than any mistake you have and will ever make.

Day 2: You are blameless

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…” – Colossians 1:22 (NIV)

Shame has always been out to steal our identity. The truth of this verse is that shame was never meant to be a burden we carry around our everyday lives. Sin and shame were banished once and for all on the cross. This verse also says we are free from accusation! Shame says you are bad but grace says you are made NEW. Shame says you are not enough but God says you are CHOSEN. You are blameless because of God’s great love for you.

Day 3: God’s Grace Draws Us Near

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Shame only separates us from God and causes us to hide from God. This daily verse shares how God’s grace is available for us in our time of need. Grace draws us near to God and His love. God’s plan was always to make a way out of punishment and into a relationship with Him. He loves us even in our mess. Use this daily verse to silence shame as you run to God with confidence that He will receive you.

Day 4: Receive God’s Love

“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” -Ephesians 3:19 (NIV)

Learning to receive from God can be a vulnerable and humbling process. Sometimes we can hold onto things due to pride or fear. God already knows all you have done and is not afraid of your process and pain. Ask God for forgiveness and receive His love that surpasses knowledge like this daily verse shares. Do this even in the areas where you feel like you want to hide in shame. Be filled to all the fullness like this daily verse says by learning to trust God. He will faithfully restore and heal you in every way.

Day 5: Rejoice Everlasting Joy

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”-Isaiah 61:7 (NIV)

Instead of letting shame rule your life, surrender you’re all to Jesus. Like this daily verse shares, God will give you everlasting joy. This is your true inheritance as sons and daughters of God. You can trade all your shame today for God’s amazing grace and joy.

Living a life of shame doesn’t have to be your destiny. You are called to walk in confidence with God through every season. Speak a daily verse over yourself every day this week with each verse above. You will begin to truly see who God says you are and begin to receive revelation and hope for your future. As you speak the Word over yourself, you will realize that shame has no hold on you! You are FREE.

Day 6: God is Your Defender

“The Lord is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; he does what is right and fair.”-Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV)

God is your greatest defender and will turn things that are unfair into a great victory for us. Maybe there have been times that you did the right thing and no one knew. God will defend you if you let Him so you don’t bear the shame that doesn’t belong to you. You can be free in God’s ability to protect you and surround you with His love and justice.

Day 7: God Has Forgiven You

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9 (NIV)

We as believers often carry sins from our past as grave clothes for long periods of time or even forever. You don’t have to feel the guilt and shame any longer but we can let go of shame. Once you ask God for forgiveness, He is faithful to forgive and embrace you. He simply wants to be with you and for you to have constant communion with Him. The only one who can separate you from his forgiveness is the lie of shame or yourself. Know you are worthy because of Jesus today!

Share a Daily Verse with someone who needs hope today!

Written by Monique Santiago

May 18, 2019 1 comment

Faith

Video of the Day: Heidi Baker Shares the Ultimate Key to Starting Your Day Right

by GOD TV September 28, 2018

written by GOD TV

Heidi Baker of Iris Global shares about a daily struggle and a personal routine that builds her faith back up, day-in and day-out.

Heidi Baker, missionary, speakers, author, CEO, wife and mother, has been in ministry for close to 30 years, making Mozambique her home and mission field for most of that time. She has experienced everything from personal doubts to death threats, and yet she has made it through the storms.

“It’s a struggle, it’s a battle, it’s a joy,” she says of the reality of living in this world as people of faith.

We all have our own challenges, and we each handle things differently but thank God we can learn from our brothers in sisters.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed… discouraged… like you’re failing somehow… you need to hear this powerful message.

If you’re trying to do it all on your own, in your own strength… we encourage you to let Him in.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Share this video with someone who needs some encouragement! You can also help millions of people around the world – people who might not have anyone – hear the Gospel by supporting GOD TV today. Help us reach more people with the Love of Jesus today!

September 28, 2018 0 comments

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