Opinion: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Opinion

Click clack confidence

beats a path across

the room, up the stairs

matching inner hum.

Footsteps in sync

catches glimpse of a frown

step falters slightly,

shrug, resume, then a repeat.

Halts for a moment

takes stock

resumes pace now as

unobtrusive shuffle

confidence pierced.

Reflection Shame: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

 

1.     Have you ever chosen to accept shame regardless of your innocence? Why?

2.     Was your decision influenced by the Holy Spirit or by peer pressure? How did that affect your faith and your heart?

3.     Who has the most influence on your personal reputation? Why?

Share: What has helped you to cope with false opinions?

Shame: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “disregarding its shame,”

The time had come. Time to complete His heart’s goal. Time to return to glory, to His Father’s side. Time to bridge the chasm of separation. Time to bring redemption and reconciliation. Time for timeless Grace.

Public shame and personal reputation were of no account. Slander, lies, deceit, unlawful trials, illegal beatings, could not deter Him or prevent Him from reaching His purpose. For us.

Yet, how easily do we get pulled away from a purpose, or a call, or even a nudge by the Spirit, when ridicule or sarcasm whispers their influence? It doesn’t even need to come from others. Often we talk ourselves out of an action when we consider all the personal and public inconvenience that might be involved.

Verbal and non-verbal disapproval. Actual shame and embarrassment. Misunderstanding from those closest to us. Humiliation.

So we fold. And then are in shame before the Lord’s presence. Because we didn’t cling to His voice alone. And we failed Him.

And then His Spirit brings us back to the cross where He disregarded shame and we are redeemed again and again.

Lord, please give us Your strength to put all personal reputation aside when You ask. Disentangle us from our-self-first and put You first. Please put Your heart’s desire into our hearts that we might be messengers of Your grace.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 69:18-19                                 

“Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;

Ransom me because of my enemies!

Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;

All my adversaries are before Thee.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:16, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.”

There is a portion in the poem Dreams, by Langston Hughes, that says: For if dreams die/Life is a broken-winged bird/That cannot fly.

Through life we often learn to keep our dreams close to us to protect them from public ridicule. Sometimes we even have to keep them from well meaning family and friends. However when we keep them even from ourselves, we can begin to live with a meager perspective.

How can we understand the difference between humility and fear when God puts gifts and blessings into our lives and encourages us to use them, but we don’t? Instead, is it non-acceptance of His grace—which none of us deserve anyway.

Does shame sneak into our lives when we don’t lift our sight high enough to desire and believe and act with obedience to a love that turned the world’s definition of blessings upside down.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly,” says Jesus.

Lord, please keep Your heaven in our souls so that our heart’s desires match with Yours and we live in Your abundance instead of our limitations. Keep us longing to dream of Your city.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 63:8

“My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me.”