No Shame

I was thinking about shame and how it can destroy us and I came across this verse.

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalms 3:3 (NLT)

It made me think about shame and how we react to it. You know the drill. You drop your head and roll it down and away. As your shoulders slump, you let out a deep sigh. You talk, but it is without eye contact, constantly fighting looking down and away again. It is worse than a feeling of guilt. With guilt, you can confess your wrongdoing. Shame is deeper. It isn’t about “doing,” it’s about “being.”

How do you repent of being something you are so ashamed of? How can you renew something so broken, so damaged, so worthless? Shame, more than an emotion, is a deeply worn brain map, a trait, a feeling that you are totally unworthy. But then there is God. God, who comes and lifts your head and whispers deep into your soul, “Don’t call what I have created, worthless.” God, whose love for you can soften the calloused skin around your heart and begin to birth new life. God who bestows glory on you. Our Lord God is the shame slayer.

Today, let God lift your head. And when He does, gaze into His face. Feel the glory He has given you. Let it radiate deep into your soul and believe. Believe you are loved. Believe that you were created for His glory and that your shame is a lie, a false belief, a shame given to you by others. Let Him tenderly lift your head and take away your shame.

Pray with me;
Dear Father, I have felt such a deep sense of shame. I bring it to you today and ask You to banish it. Lift my head and let me see Your face. Let Your deep love penetrate my heart and set me free. Today, let me see myself the way You do. In Jesus’ Name.
AMEN

Baby Steps

TODAY’S VERSE
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you bought the lie? Do you sit around wishing there was something you could do about your spiritual life? Do you feel helpless to live the kind of life that Christ has asked you to? Well, there is good news! You and I do not have to be a victim of satanic attacks or the pull of our old nature. God in His word has suggested a better way. He tells us to make every effort to “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” Every effort, I can live with that. Every effort means that we really try. It acknowledges that there may be set-backs but that is okay. Get up and make every effort again! That is what Peter means when he writes that we need to possess these qualities in increasing measure. He is talking about baby steps. We make every effort, fall down, get up and make every effort again. When we do, look at the hope, look at what God promises. He says if we make every effort to increase our faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in baby steps, that it will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our Christian walk. Today, you can claim this promise for yourself. Don’t buy the lie. You can live for God! You can make a difference, one baby step at a time.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, I want to live for You, but I acknowledge that I keep tripping up. Help me take my faith and add to it goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in baby steps. Holy Spirit, convict me, guide me and give me the discipline to begin living for You today. In Jesus’ name. AMEN

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Where Do You Go?

TODAY’S VERSE
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:16

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where do you go when there is trouble? There are a lot of choices. We can run to our friends. Friends who listen and understand and help us when we need it are a true blessing. But not all of us have those kinds of friends. We can procrastinate and seek a solution later. We could escape our stress with an addiction simply anesthetizing ourselves from the situation. Or we could be ignore the situation and run full steam ahead. However, there is a better way. Today’s scripture gives us another option, one that makes good sense. The author of Hebrews writes, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” You notice the verse doesn’t say to be timid. It says to “boldly” come to God. And what do we get when we find ourselves in His presence? Mercy and grace. Two of the most beautiful words in all of the Bible. Mercy is not giving us what we deserve. Grace IS giving us what we DO NOT deserve. Thank God today that He has His mercy and grace available for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love for me. Thank You that You have promised me that I can come boldly to You anytime – day or night. I can come boldly with my problems, my issues, my concerns and weaknesses. I come to You now, dear Father. Hear my needs, hear the deep inner thoughts and concerns of my heart. Please make me conscious of Your wonderful mercy and grace that You have promised to me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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A New Person

TODAY’S VERSE
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:9-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Motive is complex. So much of what we feel and do is because of what we believe. What we believe creates our motives. A negative self image can create a motive that drives us to do what we think will make us acceptable in other people’s eyes. What about God’s eyes? If our eternal destiny is at risk, doesn’t it make sense that we do all we can to earn our way into God’s favor? Yet that is exactly what Paul was trying to argue against. Paul writes that, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” You see, if Holiness is the only thing that will satisfy a Holy God, then I can never earn my way to heaven. That is why Jesus had to be my substitute. His perfect life was traded for my jaded one. Now I am a child of God and Heaven because I took the citizenship He offered me. He made me a new person. Have you taken His offer to become His child? You can today. Then you know what you will find out about doing good? It’s not to earn God’s love, it’s because you have it.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross for me. I know I need Your perfect life as a substitute for my own sinful one. I understand You died for me and today I accept Your free gift of salvation. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Confidence

TODAY’S VERSE
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Confidence. There are many different ways you can approach God. You could be fearful, apathetic, humble, arrogant, with faith or without it, confused or assured, angry or in worship. You can also come to God with full assurance and confidence that He loves you and will answer your prayer. Leanne Payne in her book Listening Prayer writes, “In a day when we are out of touch with the soul and its way of communicating and interacting with God, we have to learn anew how to receive from Him.” She continues, “It is really simple. Through an act of the will we release our faith in confidence and receive what we have asked for, thanking God in advance for the answer.” This happens as we dialog with God about His will. “What is it You want, Father?” we ask. And when He answers (and He will in His time), then we can go to God in confidence knowing He will do His will. John says it this way, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” What do you want to ask God for today? Come to Him in confidence and talk to Him about it.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me learn to be more intimate with You and to have confidence, even today, in who You are and how much You love me. Lord, You know my situation. You know my needs. Help me to know what Your will is in these matters so I can pray accordingly and thank You in advance for Your answer. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Praise Him

TODAY’S VERSE
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Psalms 150:1-2, 6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We often have so many pressing issues that it is easy to come to God and pour out our requests without saying anything of praise toward God. Derek Prince once said, “If we only have ten minutes to pray, eight of them should be spent in praise!” There is so much we can praise God for today. Praise Him for His power. Praise Him for His glory. Praise Him for His provision. Praise Him for His love toward us. Praise Him for His death and resurrection. Praise Him for being our Almighty God. Who are we that God would allow us to even utter His name in praise, yet He does. He desires our praise and gratitude. Today, lift up your voice in praise to Him. Let everything that is in us, PRAISE THE LORD!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess I have not praised You as I should. So today, I come to say, “Thank-you!” Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank You for all Your provision. Thank You for loving me and taking care of me. I praise You for Your majesty and power, for Your Holiness and unfailing love. I love You, Father God, and praise You today in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
AMEN

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Citizen Of Heaven

TODAY’S VERSE
You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; but now you have received God’s mercy.
I Peter 2:9-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I grew up without a nationality flavor to my life. Yes, Americans, but we weren’t strong on any particular ethnic heritage. On the other hand, my two best friends did. Steve Camarata was Italian and Ron Torigan was Armenian. I enjoyed learning about their heritage, foods and customs. I always loved their family gatherings and the sense of belonging to a common past and future. I have often felt that is what Christianity should be about. As Christians, if God is our father, then we are all related in Him and our citizenship is not just of this world, but of the one to come. Peter is talking in this passage to all of us who believe. All of us who call on the name of Christ for our salvation. We are a chosen people! But we are not to keep this truth to ourselves. It is God’s will that all people become part of His forever family. Because we are God’s chosen people, Royal Priests, a Holy Nation, Peter wrote, “You can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” It is marvelous that once we were outside God’s family, but then we saw the light, and now we belong to Him. Let’s share this great privilege with others so they, too, can enjoy being a citizen of Heaven.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, once I was without mercy and forgiveness in my life. Then You came along and called me into Your kingdom. Thank You for forgiving me of all my sins and making me Your child. Help me, even today, to share with others that do not know You, so they, too, can enter Your forever Kingdom. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Imitation

TODAY’S VERSE
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The story goes that a young boy was brought before Alexander the Great for stealing a horse. Alexander saw how young he was and heard his story and decided he would be lenient. Getting ready to release him, Alexander asked the young boy, “What is your name?” He replied, “Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great was furious and asked him again, “What is your name?” The boy, this time with fear in his voice said, “Alexander, sir.” In anger, Alexander the Great threw the boy to the ground, pointed at him and said, “Boy, change your conduct, or change your name.” I wonder, are we a good representative of the name of Christ, or would the cause of Christ be better served if we did not call ourself a Christian? Being His child is a privilege and an honor. In order not to bring any reproach to His name, our goal should be to live a life of love just like He did. How can you be a good representative of His name today?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, I know that I bear Your name and haven’t imitated You the way that I should. I haven’t been the best representative of who You are. Help me live out Your love in everything I do today, so Your name will get the glory and honor it deserves. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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This Day

TODAY’S VERSE
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalms 118:24, 29

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In most cases there is always a choice. Even if there is no other way out of a situation, you still can choose how you react to the inevitability of the event. Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Here we have a whole range of Godly reactions to our situation. Add to that list faith, hope and prayer and how else can we react than what the Psalmist suggests, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”? I know how hard life can be. I know there are difficulties, horrific situations and sometimes a seemingly hopeless situation, but God has made this day. This day. Today is yours. What you do with it may have human limitations, may have the deck stacked against it, but know this, nothing, nothing, nothing can take you out of the love that God has for you and you can rejoice and be glad in this day.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I know I have a choice. Today I choose You. I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day. Give me this day my daily bread. Lead me this day and keep me from falling to temptation. Dear Father, this is a day You have made; with Your strength, I will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Focus On Him

TODAY’S VERSE
Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
Colossians 3:5-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Just say no! Okay, maybe it’s not quite that easy. But you have to admit that the attitude you take into a situation helps shape the outcome. If we can read this list that Paul gives us and determine that with God’s strength we are going to say “No” before we get into a challenging situation, it will help. Paul uses phrases like “Have nothing to do with” and “get rid of.” This indicates that God expects us to take some initiative. What I like the best about today’s passage is the phrase, “Be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” So do we get victory over these sins because we focus on them and fight diligently to overcome or because we focus on God and try to be more like Him? Sure, it is some of each, but I really believe that a positive focus will always win over the negative. Try what Paul suggests: focus on God, get to know Him, let Him mold you more into His likeness and He will help you take care of any negative behavior. It’s like the old saying, “Love God and do as you please.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, You know I want to live a life that pleases You. I don’t want to be sexually immoral, evil or greedy. I don’t want to be angry or full of slander or dirty language. I don’t want to lie. Help me today to focus on You. Help me to know You, to love You, to commune with You and I will trust You with all the other behaviors. Help me be more like You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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