Bringing Our Shame to God

Yesterday, I shared Child of the King with you, and I hope you had a chance to read it. Today, I'd love for you to do something a little different.

Read it out loud, but this time, use your own name as you read.

For example:

"Michelle is a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. Michelle is chosen, accepted, and included."

Continue through the entire reading, inserting your name wherever it makes sense.

One Faithful Workouts member even recorded herself reading it on her phone so she could play it throughout the day. I love that idea!

Sometimes we can read what the Bible says about us and believe it's true for other people, but struggle to believe it's true for ourselves. Making these truths personal can help us begin to see ourselves the way God sees us.

Now, I want to talk about something else that's been incredibly important in my own life: prayer.

You might be wondering what prayer has to do with shame, but I believe it's one of the most important ways we can begin to experience freedom from it.

When we're carrying shame, we often spend a lot of time thinking about what we've done wrong, what others think of us, or what we wish we could change. Those thoughts can become so familiar that we stop questioning whether they're even true.

That's why I want to encourage you to bring those thoughts to God.

Prayer isn't just about telling God what's on our hearts. It's also about making time to be quiet, reflect on His Word, and become more aware of how He may be guiding us through His Spirit.

Instead of allowing shame to have the loudest voice in our minds, we can begin giving God's truth more room.

Today, I'd love for you to try something simple but meaningful. Think about one thing you've been carrying shame about. Maybe it's a mistake from your past, a habit you're struggling to change, or something someone said or did that left you feeling unworthy.

Whatever comes to mind, I want you to bring it to God in prayer.

You might begin by saying:

"Jesus, You know everything about me, including the things I struggle to accept about myself. You know the mistakes I've made, the hurts I've experienced, and the thoughts that keep me feeling ashamed. Help me recognize the lies I've been believing and replace them with Your truth. Show me where I need to receive Your forgiveness, where I need to forgive myself, and where I need to remember that my worth comes from You. Thank You for loving me, even when I struggle to love myself. Amen."

I know how easy it is to read something like this and think, "That sounds good, but I don't really have time today."

But I really want to encourage you to give this a try.

Find a quiet place and spend a few minutes talking honestly with Jesus about any shame you've been carrying.

Then, rather than immediately moving on with your day, sit quietly for a little while. Reflect on what you know to be true about God's character and His love for you. Pay attention to any thoughts or insights that come to mind, and consider how they line up with Scripture.

You don't need to force an answer or expect to hear something dramatic. Just make space to be with Him.

My hope is that as you continue bringing your struggles to God and filling your mind with His truth, shame will have less influence over the way you see yourself and live your life.