WHEN SHAME COMES CRASHING DOWN...

Every now and then a memory will come crashing back into my consciousness - not a good memory - but a bad memory.  A memory of something awful, of a time when I said or did something horrible.  Something I would go back and correct if I could - but I cannot.  There are two or three of these memories which come back regularly.  Please understand I have confessed these things to the Lord Jesus and I know that they are forgiven.  Yet they come back - many times at a moment of weakness. These memories bring horrible remorse and terrible shame.  That is why these words from Romans were such an encouragement. 

Romans 9:33 (NLT) ...I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.

Romans 9:33 (HCS) ...the one who believes on Him will not be put to shame.

The stone in Jerusalem was Jesus Christ - many stumbled over Him and would not accept the fact that He was the Messiah and that salvation could be found only through Him.  But to ALL who do believe to those who TRUST in Him He gives the right to become sons and daughters of God. (Jn. 1:12) When we are forgiven and enter into a relationship with God - one of the things we can count on is that God will not disgrace us or SHAME us because of those things that we have said and done in the past.  They are truly covered once and for all at the cross. Psalm 103 tells that HE has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.  He has FORGIVEN us and those sins are GONE forever! What an amazing God of Mercy and Grace.  So when I feel the shame of those old sins - I remember that God will NEVER remember those sins and He will NOT shame me with them.  I must choose to believe the TRUTH about my forgiveness and stand in His grace putting  behind me (100 times a day if necessary) ALL those memories that come flooding back.  How do I put them behind me?  By focusing on Jesus. I pray and thank God for His Mercy and Grace. I sing a song of worship, or review verses I am memorizing, or open my Bible and start to read.  WHY?  Why can I do this?  Because "..the one who believes on Him will not be put to shame."  Praise God what an awesome Savior we have. A song I heard many years ago says it well.

And though your body lay weary from wasting, and your eyes show the sorrow they've had.

Oh the love that your heart is now tasting -  has opened the gate, Be Ye Glad.
And there is no disease or no struggle, that can pull you from God, Be Ye Glad.

Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad, Every debt that you ever had

Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord,
Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus thank You that You did PAY in FULL for my sin and shame.  Thank You that I do NOT live under the crushing weight of guilt and sin. Thank you that forgiveness cleanses me from sin and shame here and now as well as forever. Amen