The warm flush of embarrassment began in my core and rose to the top of my head. Thoughts of shame, (“You messed up. Everyone noticed. You’re not good enough.”), attempted to distract me from completing the task at hand.
What caused the self-humiliation? Singing on the church worship team, I made a false start. Self centered thinking made it all about me. But wait a minute! Another voice stepped into my awareness.
“Who are you Bonnie?” Bold assurance rose in my thoughts, “I’m a child of Father God who loves and forgives me. I’m an eternal citizen of his kingdom.”
The Holy Spirit again spoke into my thoughts, “Are you believing a lie? Your worth is not found in your perfection. My perfect Son Jesus bought your perfection. Find your worth in being my adored child.”
How might an adored child respond? Wouldn’t affection with grateful laughter be the appropriate reaction? My spirit smiled as I confidently completed singing the song to my adoring Father. It was all about him, not me.
I’ve learned the devil tries to use my mistakes as a snare. If he can trap my thoughts in a closet of shame and false guilt, then my attention is on ugliness instead of on the One who delivered me from sin and its torment.
How to fight back when attacked? Run quickly into the arms of the One who wants you to rest in his loving arms. In your thoughts, run from the one who torments with accusations and lies.
The loving God of truth reminds me who I am. I am the daughter of the most high God, loved unconditionally, and bought with the blood of his Son Jesus. I can rest in his perfection and protection.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. (NLT: Romans 8: 1 – 2)