One day, my husband and I visited the Hot Sulphur Springs in Colorado and were looking forward to a wonderful, relaxing time together.  Well, the father-of-lies had plans of his own.

After we entered one of the small pools, I became thirsty, reached out for our water bottle, and took a sip.  Suddenly another person in the pool commented, “Is that your water bottle…or mine?”  Then I realized I was drinking from the wrong water bottle!

This might seem funny to you, but I felt horrified…condemned…filled with shame.  You see, the father-of-lies had been telling me all my life that I was not allowed to make mistakes.  In fact, it gets worse than that.  I was not even allowed to feel emotionally down.  I was also not allowed to say something stupid.  If I did any of the above, I WAS DEEMED BAD: corrupted…deformed…fatally flawed!  Now, if he had accused me of doing something bad, I could have fixed that.  However, he accused me of being bad.  I experienced this as extreme shame.

WHEN HE HAD RECEIVED THE DRINK, JESUS SAID, ‘IT IS FINISHED.’ WITH THAT, HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND GAVE UP HIS SPIRIT
(John 19:30).

A long time ago, Jesus Christ received a drink, too…for me and for you.  And after He had received this drink, He said, “IT IS FINISHED.”  My and your shame was finished…terminated…brought to an end with His drink. You and I have been spoken clean from shame by the words, “It is finished!”

NO, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US
(Romans 8:37).

What has the father-of-lies told you would happen to you if you made a mistake? Know that his negative, destructive beliefs live in your conclusions. With which conclusions has he kept your shame alive in you?

Only the Lord Jesus can speak you clean from shame. Your own words will not remove your shame. Therefore, in faith, surrender your conclusions of shame to Jesus and allow Him to speak you clean with His words, “It is finished.”  Allow Him to take that drink for you. Simply apply the same faith that you used to accept Jesus as the Forgiver of your sins to the termination of your shame.  May you do this each time you make a mistake and the father-of-lies tries to cripple you with his best weapon—SHAME.

PRAYER: I surrender my shame to Your finished work on the cross, Lord Jesus, and to Your redeeming words: IT IS FINISHED! Remove all condemnation, so I may be allowed to make mistakes without being deemed bad. Remove all shame, so I may be allowed to be sad without being deemed guilty.  In all these things we are more than conquerors through You.