40 days of prayer - day 15

40 Days of Prayer - Day 15

Replacing Shame with Confidence in God

Author: Doug Brackett

Recently in a conversation, a friend shared with me the struggle he has in “staying off the streets.” When he was young, he spent a couple of times in prison and it had a profound effect on him. Rightly so. He has told me that he never wants to go back so he works every day to stay away from people or things that could place him back there. He works in a steady job and has been since leaving prison in 2005. I shared with him how proud I am of who he is as a friend and that he shouldn’t look at each day as a struggle from his past since he has been doing that successfully for 20 years.

This conversation reminded me that we do that, don’t we? We go through our day to day doing things like going to school, work, raising our families, but in the back of our mind there’s that time in our life….you remember don’t you? The time that is always there, somewhere in our memories that always brings shame. What was it? Oh the list could go on and on or just be one but make no mistake, it has always been there, showing up just when you don’t need it. That’s how shame works. Always bringing you down. But there’s hope , right? You bet there is!

Our scripture for today is one of my favorites. You have one, right? The one that God placed in your heart and reminds you every time shame tries to come around with a bad memory. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of mine. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Now there, right there…those words from God help me “Deep Clean” my shame! When shame comes around, God always reminds me of His promises. His promises give me confidence, not shame. Shame does not come from God. For God loves you and does not want you to live in past shame but live now in the confidence of the work He is doing within you now, right now.

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for I have been fearfully and wonderfully made according to your word. Help me this day to remember your promises that I might have confidence in your word and not my past so I that I will abide in your abundance, in Jesus’ name amen.

Have a very Blessed Day, without shame!