Overcoming ShameSample

Freed to Love and Live Unashamed

After years of having an incorrect view of God, which resulted in an incorrect view of myself, I drew closer to God as I began to see Him for who He truly is: my loving Father. More and more, I began to desire to share with people how much God loves them and desires a personal relationship with them.

When we seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God, we experience the joy and peace of knowing God deeply and being known by Him. As a result of Jesus’ work on the cross, we can be adopted into His family (Ephesians 1:5), approved of and accepted (Romans 15:7), made right in God’s eyes and blameless (Romans 3:28), and become an indispensable part of His kingdom work (1 Corinthians 12:22). This is how much you and I are loved and valued.

We cannot achieve these things on our own. We can’t perform to gain God’s approval. Think about this: if we could, then Jesus died in vain. Jesus’ whole mission on earth was to live the perfect life that we could never live, fully obeying God the Father, and then die, taking the punishment from God that we deserve as a result of our sin. Jesus already received the approval of God for us. It is done. Through Jesus, we can be fully loved and fully approved of by God.

If you’re a Christian, rest in your value as an image-bearer, and your identity as a son or daughter adopted into His family. Dwell on who God says you are and how much He values you. You’re not defined by what you’ve done to yourself or others. And you’re definitely not defined by what’s been done to you. You’re defined ONLY by the value and identity God has given you. Meditate on times in your life when you have felt His love and experienced His acceptance.

If you’re not yet a follower of Jesus, you need to know God loves you unconditionally. At this very moment, He is offering you an invitation to enter into a personal relationship with Him. He wants you to experience His forgiveness, to overcome shame, to experience the depth of His love, and to know and live into your purpose.

Jesus, help me to know how much You love me. Help me to experience and rely on Your love and to share it with others, today and always.

Obtain more resources on overcoming shame at resolutionmovement.org