Be free. Own the gospel.

Sin is a pit. Dark and deep. Easy to fall into. Hard to crawl out of. And I have this theory...

Shame can become a ball and chain, making it even more difficult to climb out of that darkness and to feel the warmth of mercy again...

We're forgiven. But if you're like me, that's hard to accept. Hard to own. Shame looms over my head like a cloud sometimes. It's not so much a thought process. Not so much  a series of regrets. It's more of an emotion. An awareness of my own depravity. My sin. That ball and chain.

Shame. Shame is abused by the enemy as a way of tethering us to the very world we've been set free from. Shame is the shadow that obscures our sight of the miracle of God's grace.

Recognize the true purpose of shame. Recognize it as a red flag to confess and repent. Then accept His forgiveness as the gift that it is. Rejoice in it. Rejoice and be free. Testify to His glory. Own the gospel. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
"Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood." Isaiah 54:4