The Heart Of Man: Overcoming Shame And Finding IdentitySample

THE FEAST 

“He is the perpetual wave against the rocks and He is relentless in His pursuit of my heart. He sees things in me that I barely know myself. Good things. Real things. Things that are alive. And I’m starting to see that He didn’t just die for my sin. He died to free me from the shame that used to define my life. I’m starting to believe that He is a good Father. And that I am a good son.”

You now take the seat that is always reserved for you at the table, the returning prodigal sitting amongst fellow prodigals. There are no other types of humans. All of us, even those who deeply love the Father, try to leave the table from time to time. 

The Father is as proud and delighted with this community as ever. What He values most is when your “good behavior” isn’t about lack of exposure or covering who you really are. He loves to see a vulnerable and trusting family. This is infinitely more satisfying than a well-behaved, self-reliant gathering. 

You will never become less or more of Christ in you. And today, after your worst failure, you are as fully loved, adored and righteous as the first moment you believed. When you find yourself risking to trust this way of seeing, the power of the lie begins to fade and the increasing confidence of who you really are becomes the bedrock that will break your shame and addiction. It will allow you to live free.

It is important to know that you will arrive at the cliff again. Christ tells us that we will face many trials and temptations in this world, and inevitably you will find yourself standing on the edge of your cliff again. The Father will be playing His melody for you, inviting you as you venture near the edge into a choice of trust. Which story will you believe? Are you a failure who must jump, because that’s what someone like you does? Or are you a beloved child, free from shame, and free to invite others into your cliff moment? Free to stay?

Reflection: Which story do you believe? How does this change your cliff moments?

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