The Storm of Shame and the Lighthouse of Honor
from You Version
Why did you do that? What’s wrong with you? Were you raised in a barn?
Shame.
It highlights the shortcomings. It shouts failures from the rooftops. It makes a public scene of unmet expectations. It poses a threat to character, and bases our identity on where we’ve messed up.
Shame is not the culture of the Kingdom.
One of the enemy’s favorite routes to attack our identity as sons of God is through the tactic of shame. The storyline of the gospel focuses on the radical truth that we do not have to work for our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, and because of this, the condemnation that once hovered over our heads is fully removed.
So, how do we overcome when we’re engulfed in a toxic culture of shame as perhaps family, friends, or coworkers don’t practice honor frequently? The answer is multifaceted, but at its core, we must immerse ourselves in truth and intentionally practice honor. This includes speaking kindly to yourself in your thought life, being intentional about only speaking what God would speak over you, and then doing the same when you speak of other people.
Reflection
Take some time to reflect on how you’ve honored others recently. Who is one person you’d like to honor this week, and how do you plan to do so?