I can’t take credit for all of the wisdom and insight in this Monday’s message. Some of the ideas come from Christine Caine’s talk at Passion a couple weeks ago.
One of the things I struggle with and also that I see in others is living in fear, feeling ashamed, and hiding. We hide from others and ourselves. We are ashamed of being who we are created to be. We are afraid of what others say. We are worried that we won’t be strong enough, pretty enough, or smart enough.
Who said that?
Who said that you can’t do it?
Who said that you aren’t good enough?
Christine Caine said, “If you don’t know what God says about you, you will believe what everyone else says.”
God says that you are loved.
You are justified and redeemed.
You are accepted.
You have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
You are set free.
You are chosen.
You are forgiven.
Satan is going to make you question what God really says. Satan hides and discourages you. He makes you angry at others and upset with yourself. It is his tactic to distract your thoughts and efforts on people other than him. To quote KB, tell him “Not Today Satan, Not Today.”
Before Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, they were unashamed. They weren’t afraid of what each other thought. They knew that God loved them and that’s all that mattered. Unfortunately, that didn’t last.
Replace the lies with the truth. Shame has us looking for something we already have. When we are ashamed of who we are, we try to fill our lives with things to make us feel accepted and fulfilled, but we are already accepted and fulfilled.
Ladies, you are each beautiful and loved. Men, you are good enough. Don’t try to be someone that you aren’t. Don’t let other people tell you who you are. Let God do that. What Jesus did for you is bigger than what people say about you.
I appreciate you.
-JP