No SHAME! Pt. 2

A child of GOD who continues to live with shame and guilt over sin is live the devil's lie, and separated from the freedom our Father purchased on our behalf. GOD is a Protector, not a shamer; with Him on our side, we can combat the devil's schemes.

Shame is compounded when we choose to hide our struggle and suffer in silence – exactly what the enemy wants us to do, since in our isolation, the only voice we hear is his and he is a liar and the father of lies John 8:44.

 Our Protector wants us out of hiding and under His protection, and He has given us specific weapons of warfare to expose the devil’s deception.

Confession…“tell the truth and shame the devil.”

When we hide sin we give Satan a greater opportunity to keep us in bondage to self-condemnation and shame. Exposure is our defense against this enemy!

We confess to GOD – our Father forgives our sin but we must show Him that we are genuinely remorseful for actions that grieve His heart and His Holy Spirit. If we are sincere, GOD will reveal to us even our secret sin. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Proverbs 28:13

We must honestly confess our struggle with sin and character defects to believers who are living righteously and accept godly help, counsel and support. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 1:5.

We also allow others into our “personal space” and become accountable to someone other than ourselves, and our enemy!

A person is said to be “as sick as their secrets;” pretense is a hindrance to spiritual wellness. Once we relinquish shame and embrace the forgiving and empowering grace of CHRIST JESUS, we will be on the path to spiritual healing.

However, a one time confession and other’s best efforts on our behalf are not enough to prevent us from backsliding. We must never forget that in our frail humanity we are vulnerable to old habits, unless we continue to seek GOD’s strength and protection daily.

The armor of constant prayer must be our shield of protection. 

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers Ephesians 6:18. 

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father and our Sovereign LORD who loves us more than we can ever fathom. We are grateful for your omniscience, in that YOU understand perfectly that we are unable to love YOU as you deserve, but we want to. Thank you for YOUR exceeding grace and mercy that allows us to be YOUR children, beloved and cared for. Thank you for hearing our feeble confessions and forgiving our weakness, and thank you for YOUR POWER that makes us perfect in our weakness. YOU are a GOD of mysteries that we can never understand but YOU are teaching to trust YOU in all things and take YOU at YOUR WORD, which is the lamp unto our feet and the light to our path of righteousness, justice and peace. To YOU belong all dominion and power forever and ever.  We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile