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Written by Phil Rehberg, a contemporary writer.

Shame can be described as a sense of embarrassment, dishonor, disgrace or inadequacy. These feelings come from something you did or thought that contradicts what you believe to be good or valuable (this is essentially guilt which is a precursor to shame). Just the fact that we fall short of our own standards of good produces shame in all of us. We want to hide our weakness from others because we want them to value us. This is why it is normal for people to display their best self to others, which probably helps society stay civilized. But we also naturally display a false self in many situations, which keeps us from truly connecting with others. We use our false self to cover up our shame, for example, pretending that we have our life all together when actually we are broken or struggling. It takes time, but we need to let go of our false self. As we defeat shame in our lives it becomes easier to put off the false self because we don’t have self-rejection to cover up. As we let go of more false self we can develop stronger relationships with God and others. The kingdom community then becomes stronger. Shame generally causes you to believe that you have less value. If you allow this belief to continue , …  if you don’t deal with your shame in the healthy and loving way God intends, then the shame becomes self-rejection which blocks yourself and your connections with others. Your belief that you aren’t worth as much contradicts what God says about you. He says you are His child, beloved, chosen by Him, and citizens of the Kingdom of God, among many other titles. We should believe the same thing about ourselves that our Heavenly Father does. Rejecting yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that you are consciously thinking that God doesn’t love you. You just might have a general mindset that you aren’t worth very much. Perhaps this started in your childhood because of the way you were treated. In any case, that mindset will make it very difficult to experience God’s love or anyone else’s love, including anyone you might marry. And you might find yourself puzzled as to why you can’t experience love. Your self-rejection might even be buried so deeply that you are only dimly aware of it, if at all. Applying this to our relationship with God, unresolved shame will make it hard to believe God loves you and accepts you as you are. So it will be very difficult for God’s love to flow into you because you are blocking it. And you need to have an awareness of God’s love in order for your life to truly change. For how can you love God and others unless you have some sense that God loves you? This doesn’t mean you have to feel it but just that you have a general belief that God loves you as you are.

Prayer:

Written by Heather Caliri, a contemporary author.

God, these tiny little prayers feel like cheating. Does that even count? Yes, I know they do. Help me combat these feelings of shame by speaking truth, by offering up these small prayers of surrender as I can and trusting they are enough. Give me freedom from the shame I am feeling. Help me fix my thoughts on you, not on my past, my failures, or hurts. Give me eyes to see your goodness. Amen.

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Written by Toyohiko Kagawa (1888-1960), a Japanese Christian pacifist, and Christian reformer.  This is an excerpt from his book “Living Out Christ’s Love.”

It is impossible to restrict the gospel of Christ to narrow limits. It redeems the sins of the past, restores the present, and stimulates development in the future. Moreover, this is not merely for the individual but for society as well. We must conceive of it as the liberation of the entire human race. The gospel is the message of a year of jubilee, of a year of rejoicing. It should mean the liberation economically, politically, socially, physiologically, and spiritually of the human race. It must mean the true emancipation of the whole humanity.

Prayer:

Written by Brian Doyle (1956-2017), and author and editor.

Father, thank You for your beautiful, multicultural, intergenerational family, gathering in so many countries. Revive and sanctify us, I pray. Make us a house of prayer for all nations. And set our hearts on fire again with the good news of your gospel.

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Written by Stephen V. Doughty, a contemporary pastor, executive presbyter, and writer  and Marjorie J. Thompsen, a contemporary minister and author.  This is an excerpt from their book “The Way of Discernment.”

We need to open our eyes and ears. In a culture so fixed on the superficial, the negative, the sensational, and the tawdry, we need to be a people who look for the movements of God’s grace and stand ready to follow where those movements lead. The question is so straightforward: “Where have we seen the reign of Christ since we last met?”

Prayer:

Written by John Birch, a contemporary author and editor who has written several books of prayers and studies Celtic prayer.

God of wholeness, God of Grace,

to you we bring our thanks and praise.

To a world that searches

you are a lamp that shines,

to a world that is hungry

you are food that sustains,

to a world that suffers

you are hope of release,

to a world that’s broken

you are one who restores,

to a world full of hate

you are love that forgives,

to a world that denies

you are truth that endures.

To you we bring our thanks and praise,

God of wholeness, God of Grace.

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Written by Ronald S. James (1930-2003), a pastor and author.

We are more than a curious accident, more than a chance occurrence in time and space. This intricate world, so full of beauty and terror by turns, is on a journey. Up from dust and nothingness toward order, toward mind and spirit, it makes its way, guided by the hand of God. It is going somewhere. For us who follow Jesus and call ourselves by his name, it is a journey toward the kingdom of God. We have no language adequate to express what it means, but there are times when we can hear the distant trumpets and catch a fleeting glimpse of the towers of the eternal city. That is why biblical writers speak of gates of pearl and streets of gold, using the richest language at their disposal. That is why Christianity faces east, toward the dawn. Our faith makes us people of the morning. That is why the spiritual says, “There’s a great day comin’ by and by.” We are leaning into the future in expectation.

Prayer:

Written by James Lowry, a contemporary retired pastor and author.

Lord God, forgive our weary dreaming that gives up on the hope of seeing justice roll down like waters, a peaceable kingdom, and truth to set us free. Lord God, forgive our tired singing that sets no rafters ringing: with peace on earth, goodwill to all, with the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, and with joy to the world. Give us grace, O God, that these days of our lives be filled with vision and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Written by Stacy Edwards, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “Devotions from the Front Porch.”

Sometimes hurting people just need your presence, to sit and drink a cup of coffee with no words spoken. Sometimes all people need is a moment when they’re not obligated to share all the details and you’re not pressured to offer advice. When there’s nothing to be said, don’t say a thing. A chance to breathe and a friend’s presence can be two of the most healing things.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from“Reclaim Today” an organization that  has a mission to help people connect with God in the ordinary moments of life.

Whispering God, who longs for us to hear your voice, and waits in the sheer silence for us to recognize your presence, meet me in this quiet moment. Silent my loud, tumultuous thoughts, and grant my brain rest. Help me let go of my distractions, and my desire to be distracted, to simply sit here with you. And, as the silence unsettles my spirit, let the waves of your peace and presence wash over me. Amen.

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Written by Tom Schwanta, a contemporary professor of Christian formation and author.

God is in our midst, and we are often unaware of His presence. Scripture reveals God’s deep desire to be in fellowship with us and the hunger of the human soul for a relationship with Him. God always takes the initiative by His grace and seeks to draw us back into a personal friendship. Central to this relationship is understanding the dynamics of knowing God. Since God has already revealed Himself to us, we need to be alert to recognize that God is indeed present and active in our world today…[In] the words of C.S. Lewis: “We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labor is to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” Lewis captures the reality of the human ability to stifle God. Periodic awareness of God is not God’s design. Instead, our triune God desires for us to cultivate a practice that is the habitual pattern of our lives. Closely connected to this is a realistic understanding of what it means to experience God’s presence. We should not expect or seek only the spectacular encounters with God. That minimizes the normal way in which Christians have experienced God over the centuries. Like Elijah, we need to realize that God’s presence is typically not in the mountain-shattering wind or in the convulsions of the earthquake or in the consuming fires, but rather in God’s gentle “quiet whisper.”

Prayer:

Written by Debbie McDaniel, a contemporary Christian writer.

Dear God, forgive us for drifting away from you, for allowing other things to become more important in our lives. Help us to live aware, to choose wisely, to stay close to you, and anchored in your Truth. Apart from you, we have no hope. Thank you for your great love and mercy, thank you that you wait for us, that you call us to yourself, and you strengthen us in our weakness. Thank you that you alone are our Refuge and Safety, and you fill us with hope. We come to you today, choosing to walk in your Presence and Light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Written by Paul David Tripp, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his book “New Morning Mercies.”

It is an intensely human endeavor. It is the quest we all pursue. We all want to feel good about ourselves. We all want to think that we are okay. It is a fearful and anxious quest from which only grace can free you. Here’s what happens to us all – we seek horizontally for the personal rest that we are to find vertically, and it never works. Looking to others for your inner sense of well-being is pointless. First, you will never be good enough, consistently enough, to get the regular praise of others that you are seeking. You’re going to mess up. You’re bound to disappoint. You will have a bad day. You’ll lose your way. At some point, you’ll say or do things that you shouldn’t.  Add to this the fact that the people around you aren’t typically interested in taking on the burden of being your personal messiah. They don’t want to live with the responsibility of having your identity in their hands. Looking to people for your inner self-worth never works. The peace that success gives is unreliable as well. Since you are less than perfect, whatever success you are able to achieve will soon be followed by failure of some kind. Then there is the fact that the buzz of success is short-lived. It isn’t long before you’re searching for the next success to keep you going. That’s why the reality that Jesus has become your righteousness is so precious. His grace has forever freed us from needing to prove our righteousness and our worth. So we remind ourselves every day not to search horizontally for what we’ve already been given vertically. “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17). That righteousness is found in Christ alone.

Prayer:

A prayer often attributed to Wilfred Arlan Peterson (1900-1995), an American author.

You accept us–at times of self-doubt

Thank you, God of all,

Co-creator of our world,

For allowing us to be imperfectly made:

Because it makes us, if we are wise, forgiving.

Do you accept us as we are?

We condemn people too quickly:

We judge them for flawed thinking, disguised egotism,

Unworthy acquisitiveness, or skewed opinions.

But we can forgive them once we accept our own shadow,

And realize how well we ourselves fit

Into the ranks of a less than perfect human race.

You, Holy God, accept each of us,

Prophets tell us, just as we are:

Provided our moral judgments of others

Are reciprocally generous and compassionate.

Imperfection fits this evolving reality,

For the universe thrives on diversity,

Including random failure,

One of the very preconditions for the unfolding advances. May it be so.

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Written by Toyohiko Kagawa (1888-1960), a Japanese peace activist. This is an excerpt from his book “Living Out Christ’s Love.”

I am particularly struck with the fact that Christ’s prayer was not in the least for himself. If prayer has meaning only for oneself, it will not be heard. If it voices the aspirations of humanity, it will be heard. There was not the slightest trace of selfishness in Christ’s prayer: “If for the redemption of humankind, it is necessary that I should be killed, I am willing to go to my death” This attitude is the acme of the life of faith. To pray in this spirit is the highest type of religious consciousness. When in poverty, distress, or any sort of trouble we pray in this spirit, we gain the victory.

Prayer:

Germaine Copeland, contemporary pastor and author.  This prayer is an excerpt from her book “Prayers that Avail Much.”

Holy Spirit, teach us how to agree (harmonize together, together make a symphony) — about anything and everything — so that whatever we ask will come to pass and be done for us by our Father in heaven. We pray that as members of the Body of Christ we will live as becomes us — with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because we love one another. In the name of Jesus, we are eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace. .May I always remember, Lord, that you are able to do far more than I could ever imagine by your power at work within me. And may I live each day as if this were really true! Amen.

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Written by Mark D. Roberts, a contemporary author and speaker.

As we grow in the exercise of our imaginations, may we always remember that God is able to do far more than we could ever imagine. There are limits to our imaginative capacities. Yet may we also remember that the power that enables God to do more than we could ever imagine resides within us. The very Spirit of God will move in and through our imaginations to help us share in God’s redemptive work in this world, whether we’re at work or at home, in worship or in our neighborhoods, in the studio or in the soup kitchen. May our imaginations be set free to share more fully and fruitfully in God’s mission in the world. 

Prayer:

Written by Mark D. Roberts, the author of today’s meditation.

 Gracious God, thank you for all of your gifts. Today I thank you, especially for the gift of imagination. Thank you for helping me to see in my mind what I cannot see with my eyes. Thank you for inspiring me to envision your future. Thank you for helping me to see how I might share in your work in the world.

Today, Lord, I ask you to inspire my imagination once again. Give me new vision as I work. Help me to see how I might share in new ways in your redemptive mission. I ask also for the ability to see the people in my life as you see them. May I imagine by your grace who they are becoming, so I can be part of your work in them. 

Gracious God, in a day when so much in our world is terribly broken, help me to see through my imagination what you are doing and how I might participate. Give me a fresh vision for your church and how I might be part of a community living out your redemptive mission in the world. 

May I always remember, Lord, that you are able to do far more than I could ever imagine by your power at work within me. And may I live each day as if this were really true! Amen.

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Written by Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), a German-Dutch theologian and author.  This is an excerpt from the book “Imitation of Christ,” which is attributed to him.

When a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and avaricious man never rests, whereas he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can hardly abstain from earthly desires. Hence it makes him sad to forego them; he is quick to anger if reproved. Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the peace he sought. True peace of heart, therefore, is gotten by resisting our passions, not by obeying them. There is no peace of heart of a carnal person, nor the person that is addicted to outward things, but there is peace in the heart of a spiritual and devout person.

Prayer:

Written by Thomas a Kempis, author of today’s meditation.

Grant me Your grace, O most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work with me, and remain with me to the very end. Grant that I may always desire and will that which is most acceptable and pleasing to You,. Let Your will be mine. Let my will always follow Yours and agree perfectly with it. Let my will be one with Yours in willing and in not willing, and let me be unable to will or not will anything but what You will or do not will. Grant that  I may die to all things in this world, and for Your sake love to be despised and unknown in this life. Give me above all desires the desire to rest in You, and in You let my heart have peace. You are true peace of heart. You alone are its rest. Without You all things are difficult and troubled. In this peace, the selfsame that is in You, the Most High, the everlasting Good, I will sleep and take my rest. Amen.

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