Day 161 - Week 22 At A Glance
Scripture focus: He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. Titus 2:14 The Message
This week we turned our attention to the topic of toxic shame. Although shame can knock us off course, God has provided a way for us to get back on track - and learn how to embrace our God-created identity - becoming a people he can be proud of - energetic in living the abundant life.
Three kinds of shame were discussed: biological, biblical and binding. Biological shame can be overcome by growing up and learning to be gentle with our normal, human, developmental limitations. Biblical shame is best handled through truth, grace and mercy. Binding shame is tricky. It's hard because we get bound up by shame as children - when we lack the appropriate perspective to recognize shaming parenting when it happens, when we live by magical thinking and fairy-tale logic (perfectly normal for a kid), and even when our need for illusions kicks in and we stubbornly refuse to see the truth about our parent's limitations. I suspect God's healing hand will be key in loosening the chains of binding shame.
Whatever kind of shame you might have tagging along in your brain, I pray that you will be open to thinking about God, yourself and others in a new and less shaming way!
You have completed one hundred sixty one days of your three hundred sixty-five day devotional journey. May you find yourself drawing nearer to God in the process!
Recommended reading: 1 Kings 3 and 4 in the morning; Acts 6 and Psalm 125 in the evening
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