No Shame
March 17, 2009 by kristinemac
Filed under Life Stuff
One of the things I have struggled with in my Christian life is holding onto shame over some of my mistakes. There have been times when my thoughts have been consumed with transgressions, great or small, of the past…especially if I have witnessed the unhappy result of a selfish decision.
One thing that has been difficult for me, until recently, is sharing my testimony with others. You see, I was a born again Christian for most of my life. However, after years of developing a legalistic version of religion instead of pursuing a dynamic relationship with my Savior, I chose rebellion and followed another path…witchcraft and the occult. I traveled a dark and difficult spiritual road for seven years before repenting of my attitude and actions, turning my life over completely to God. Fully yielding my life to His grace and mercy, and witnessing His healing power in my life and my family.
I have wrestled with shame over how those past years (coupled with seperation and distress in my relationship with my husband) have affected my children, and lamented missed years of walking with the Lord.
However, what I strive to remember…as all those who’ve repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as Savior need to do..are the words of the Apostle Paul:
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins."
There is no need for us to be held hostage by our past. We can move forward in our walk with Christ, growing in grace and the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit. His grace is more than sufficient to see us through all things, and if God can forgive us, surely we can forgive ourselves.
My prayer today is that all of us who are saved by the redeeming grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, will no longer be held by the imaginary shackles of the past. There is no shame or condemnation but new life! Share your testimony, your past, and boldly declare the goodness of God.
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