Shush the Shame

Shame.
It's the face staring back at you in the mirror of your soul.
It speaks independently of your heartbeat, reminding you of your past.
It convinces and seemingly compels you to reject the gift of forgiveness that was paid for on the cross.

When Jesus invites you to have a conversation with Him, shame hides your face.

Shame says that before you talk to Jesus, you have to be perfect. You have to be clean.
It stands between you and your relationship with Christ constantly reminding you that you are a sinner.
"How dare you ask for the love of a sinless God?" shame repeatedly questions your motives, exposes your weakness.

When Grace says "Come", shame says "Run".
It is your biggest cheerleader when you are giving up. When you can't see how you could ever be forgiven, cherished, set free, or loved.
It is victorious when you go back to your old ways, because it has blinded you to the path that moves forward.

Shame twists disappointment into rejection.
It turns the Father who welcomes you with open arms, into one who turns His back when He sees the filth of your past.
It leads you into destruction.
It demands that you wallow in your sin, and steals all hope that you could be made whole by the One who knows.

Shame is a liar.
When it whispers into your ear slap it in the face.

Remind yourself of this, God loves the broken.
He wants you to come to Him, He wants you to bring the burdens that you carry, and lay them at His feet.
His love is undying. His mercy, new every morning.
Don't wait until you have "fixed" things before you speak to Him. That will only lead you into a cycle of despair.
Come as you are.
He will never turn you away.

Look into that mirror and tell shame to shut. Up.
You, are a child of God.