Release Yourself From the Power of Shame: A Devotional

Psalm 25:2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.

Shame is one of those feelings that prevent us from being all that we are called to be in God’s name and doing what we were appointed before we were born. Shame requires so much effort and energy to hide the sordid parts of our lives, like defeats, disappointments, and bad decisions. Shame eats at our self-esteem, leaving us feeling less than worthless to God.

King Davis understood the power of shame, so he asked God to give him victory over his enemies, so he wouldn’t be defeated and suffer the humiliation of being seen as a loser. The king wanted to avoid the distress of foolish behavior or decisions. Shame doesn’t allow us to accept that everyone makes mistakes and no one wins every game in the land of the living.

God loves us, and He sees us through the eyes of His Resurrected Son, Jesus. We are justified by the grace of God and our faith and trust in Him. Romans 8:1-2 states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Let go of the shame. See yourself as God sees you as someone worthy of love and compassion. Be merciful to yourself. Extend grace to yourself. Be to yourself as God required Jonah to be to Nineveh: speak words of repentance and know that God forgives.

Amen.