The Shame of it...

Dear Friend,

I remember when I was younger I was fighting a bed wetting issue. I was so afraid of getting up going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I thought something was down the hallway. So instead of getting out of the bed, I would often stay in the bed and wet the bed. Then I would try to get to the bathroom, change clothes and put my sheets in the washer without my mom knowing. I am six (6), I don't know why I thought my mother wouldn't notice. She noticed, and always noticed, she just didn't want to "shame" me.

Finally we talked about what was going on and I told her about my night fears, we created a system so that I could empty my bladder at night and that would allow me to talk to her if an accident happened. Once I explained to her what was going, she assured me I had nothing to be ashamed of, that I just needed to put some things in place to prevent it from happening again.

My mom handled this situation like Jesus, with no shame. John 10:10 reminds us, that Jesus came so we could have life and have it more abundantly. So if it isn't him talking to us about our shame, who is it then? It is the father of lies, he wants us to become so shackled in shame that we won't walk into the "fullness" of who we are. He has paralyzed and focused on the shame. Jesus is like my mom was, He creates a place for transparency and safety so that we can deal with those shameful places and walk in our freedom in Christ. Can you say, "No more shame!" Shame is a painful emotion caused by the belief that one is, or is perceived by others to be, inferior or unworthy of affection or respect because of one's actions, thoughts, circumstances, or experiences. No one but the father of lies, wants you to live in that emotion.

Because of the way my mom handled the situation I was able to walk in a different, because of Jesus's desire to give us freedom, then we shouldn't have to walk in shame either. Remember He (or She) who the sun set free is free indeed (see John 8:36)!

Today, realize who and what wants you to deal with the negative emotion of shame. Romans 8:1" Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." If you are experiencing condemnation, guilt and shame it isn't from God, the accuser, the one who slander's us. His desire is to keep us paralyzed in shame.

Over It,

LMJ