The first thing we get to be set free from is shame. Shame is nasty. No matter what sin or hurt you are struggling with, shame is bound to show up. It's like the "monster under the bed"; always lurking around, ready to pounce on your weakness.
You know the other reason shame resembles that monster? It's a total lie! It doesn't have as much power as you think.
Shame is defined as: A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace. We experience shame when we continually fall short or mess up in a certain area. Some of the voices of shame are:
I can't believe I did that again.
I'll never be good enough.
I'll never be free.
I'm a loser.
God made a mistake in creating me.
I've let ________ down.
I am a disappointment.
If anyone found out about this, they would reject me.
I'll never be forgiven of this.
I can't tell anyone about this.
Jesus, God who became man, who loves you so much He died for you--yeah that guy--He defeated shame. We can't get rid of shame on our own. We seriously can't! We are powerless without Jesus. But here is what He did for us!
When you were dead in your sins...God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (see Colossians 3:13-15)
Through the cross, Jesus took all of our shame. He took all of our weakness.
Without Him, we are weak. We do fall short. We all fall short. But He has paid the price through the cross to set us free!
Shame is a lie meant to keep you in bondage. It says you're not forgiven. So how do we defeat it? Receive God's forgiveness!!
Often the word repentance holds a negative meaning to us. But repentance is actually joyful! It is saying, "I know I messed up and cannot do this on my own, but I know that God is ready to forgive me and walk me through it!" It is a supernatural transaction. We can only be free through Jesus--we MUST admit our insufficiencies and receive His grace and forgiveness!
God is waiting for us to come to Him. Once we do, we can receive His forgiveness.
Receiving God's forgiveness is the key to breaking off shame. He really does want to forgive you--fully--of every area you feel shame. As soon as you say yes, He will come in and fill you with His love and forgiveness!
Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."
Pray this freedom prayer!
Jesus, I repent of all shame in my life, in these areas:
--Sins I have committed (if this applies to you, repent of those individual sins also)
--Hurtful things that have been done to me
--Other shortcomings or things I don't like about myself (repent of self-hatred)
Lord I receive your FULL forgiveness. I believe that by dying for me you forgave every failure in my life and paid the price to set me free completely. (take a moment and let the truth of His forgiveness sink in)
I rebuke the lie of shame! I silence all voices of shame in my life, in Jesus' name!
I replace all shame with the truth that I have been made clean in Jesus. I am a new person!
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