Be Not Ashamed

Jan. 1, 2018 | By Creflo Dollar

As Christians, we have been freed from the negative emotions that bind so many others and prevent them from living happy and successful lives. One of those emotions is shame, something intensely painful that can cripple us spiritually and keep us from moving forward. Most people have something in their past that holds the potential to cause them shame, and they’re ultimately defeated by it if they don’t know what the gospel says in this area. God’s message to us is overwhelmingly positive, and He reassures us in no uncertain terms that He has destroyed shame permanently for all who believe He has forgiven them.

Shame and fear are closely tied together, and people who are ashamed of something are afraid that others will find out what they so carefully try to hide. Whether it’s a mistake they made or something someone else did to them, they’re fearful of revealing too much. They may blame themselves and think others will reject them if they know the truth. However, shame and fear can’t stand in God’s presence; they disappear when we run to Him. “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore” (Isaiah 54:4, NKJV).

When we sin, the guilt we feel tells us we made a mistake. If we don’t deal with the guilt right away, it turns into shame, which tells us we are a mistake. God doesn’t make mistakes, and trusting in Him moves us into a position to receive His forgiveness and acceptance. “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Not only does God forgive us, He chooses to completely forget our past sins.

            Religion uses shame to control and manipulate people through fear, but this isn’t how God operates. We can rely on Him to deliver us from the pain these emotions cause. “To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame” (Psalm 22:5, NIV). Shame is deadly to our souls and spirits, but Christ’s acceptance of us just as we are revives us and allows us to really live again, not simply exist. 

Most people have become accustomed to dragging around secrets they’re ashamed of, but this is no way to live. This is the devil’s way of keeping us in bondage, but it’s not God’s will for us. Jesus hates shame so much that He died on the cross to remove it forever. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). When we realize this, we’ll never again let the spirit of shame rise up against us.

The world is full of shame and condemnation, but we don’t have to be a part of it. God has called us to something great according to His perfect plan for our lives, and there’s no need to hang back in fear. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, NIV).  God cares much more about our future than our past.

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