Further Freedom from Shame

Previously, shame was a real issue in my life. How it was manifested was in statements (some said out loud while sometimes only in my mind) like:

• I am not good enough.
• If they knew me they wouldn’t like me.
• I have to earn my love from others.

I am so grateful that these lies don’t have free reign in my head any more. However, they will sometimes still crop up but now I pair them with the Truth.

• I am not good enough but Christ in me makes me righteous.
• If they knew me they wouldn’t like me…but really if they don’t like me after getting to know the real me do I even want them in my life?
• I serve out of love not to earn their love.

In Hebrews 12, the Bible says that Jesus despised the shame and sat down at the right hand of the Father. He experienced shame but instead of taking the feeling and embracing it He despised it. Hated it. Repelled it. Rejected it. Gave it no value in His life. And then He just sat down.

One of the definitions of despise is a feeling of contempt for something. I, of course, had to look up contempt – and I am so glad I did. It means “the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.” Do you see the connection…if I am to be like Jesus, I will despise the shame, consider it worthless, not even consider shame deserving of my time. It is like I am shaming the shame!

Back in 2013, I wrote about the beginning of the freedom that I experienced from the impact of  shame in my life…of unworthiness in my thoughts. But I think this recent revelation of Jesus despising the shame takes it to another level of freedom.

Shame is always from the enemy and not how God brings about sanctification in our lives so when shame comes I don’t need to analyze it, bow to it or even acknowledge it. I just need to scorn it and sit down at the right hand of the Father and maybe even crawl into His lap.