When God Calls, Shame Can't Have the Final Word

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Introduction
• 1:14 Christ Removes Our Shame
• 3:14 How Enemy Uses Unworthiness Against Us
• 5:42 The Cemetery of Unused Gifts
• 7:49 Personal Journey Through Unworthiness
• 11:02 Prayer for Breaking Free
• 15:36 Closing and Support Information

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Hi and welcome back to another episode of Positioned for Purpose Conversations with Colette Marie podcast. Hi, if this is your first time listening, welcome and thank you for joining us. If you've been following us for a while, your support is, and has been, amazing. Thank you so much for listening. On today's episode we'll be talking about.

Speaker 1: 0:38

Christ did it and he made it possible for us not to walk in shame. And he made it possible for us not to walk in shame, not to walk in guilt. As we contemplate what our purposes are and what God has called us to do Today, I reflect on and it's Good Friday where I'm at, and, as a believer, I celebrate the fact that God came, he died, he rose again so that we can have life and have it more abundantly. And so, as I think of John 3, 16 that says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life, should not perish but have everlasting life. And I think about how, as believers, there are times when we are just bombarded by the things of the past, the things that we did, how we felt like we let god down, we displeased him in the way we live, in, the things that we say, just the way how we carry ourselves. And I thought about purpose, right, because when we think of where we've been and when we think of what we've done, and we start to think that how could God forgive me? That stops us in our tracks from doing what God has called us to do. I don't know about you, but have you ever just know that God has called you to do something? And just as you started to do it and it could be something as simple as reaching out to a friend or being involved in ministry at your church, or just doing some type of kindness or goodness immediately as that thought came and you followed that up with action, as you are about to start, the enemy comes to tell you how, to tell us how we are not worthy.

Speaker 1: 2:41

These feelings of unworthiness, these thoughts starts to just want to nest in our in our minds, like it's coming there to stay. And that is something that affects us. It affects the purposes and the plans for what God has in store for you and I. And so as we decide that, yes, I'm going to do this, I feel that the Lord is asking me to do this thing. The enemy does not want us to do it. He does not want us, at any point at all, to accomplish the purposes for which God has created us. He always wants to put roadblocks in our ways, and these roadblocks comes in the thoughts that we think about ourselves, this feeling of unworthiness, this feeling of how could God use me? Look at me.

Speaker 1: 3:34

But as I sat in church today, I was just reminded and it's something that I know, something that's in my prayers as well is the fact that, listen, even before the foundation of the earth, the Lord chose you and I. He knew what we would do, he knew our past, he knew our present and he knows our future. And he still chose us. And, as our pastor said today, the way to salvation is open to everyone. And we know that when Christ died on the cross, he died for every single person and we had an opportunity to choose. And once you choose him, that makes me the enemy mad. And then, when you decided that, yes, I want to follow him, I want to do what God has called us to do, that gets him even madder, because being called and purposed for God is two things that the enemy wants us not to do. And so, because we understand that what God has called us to do is not for us only, it's for the other persons out there who need to hear, who need to see God in us. They need to hear our story, they need to know where we've been, they need to know how God came through for us, they need to know how God changed us. But if we don't talk, they don't know. If we allow ourselves to remain in a space of shame, in a space of condemnation, then guess what happens? You guess that, right, we don't move, we don't do anything. We're just, oh my gosh, just in this place of Just, this place of unworthiness, and that's exactly the place that he wants us to be Now.

Speaker 1: 5:26

I shared the last time how I shared a part of my journey on YouTube and talking about something that I knew the Lord had forgiven me of. But just as I opened my mouth and shared that story, that level of shame came back, and this is something that has happened almost 10 years ago, can you believe it? And the shame, shame came, and I know that God forgave me. That same shame could stop me from using my voice. It could stop me from sharing my story, because you and I know that once we start talking, immediately this feeling of judgment, this feeling of condemnation starts to to rise.

Speaker 1: 6:12

But we have to take action. We definitely have to take action over that, because if we don't take action we can't do God's will. You and I were created to do great work in the kingdom of God, but if we don't acknowledge what Christ has done for us, that he has forgiven us, that he has given us the access that, when we sin, his word tells us he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so if we forget that right, if we forget that and we keep listening to the lies of the enemy because he comes with condemnation, then we'll never, ever, move on, we'll never do, we'll never be what God has created us to be and to do All the investment that he has placed on the inside of us, all the investment he has placed on the inside of us. It is said that the cemetery contains a lot of persons who has gone back with all the things that God has blessed them, with all the gifts that he gave them to use to benefit the rest of the body. But there are many reasons why they didn't? And one of the reasons is shame. And one of the reasons is shame. One of the reasons is condemnation, unworthiness, feeling as if we have no voice, we can't do anything. The gifts and the talents why didn't God choose someone else? The lack, the comparison and the lack of faith and belief in ourselves and what God has done. So today I want to encourage you. I don't know where you are and I don't know where you found yourself. Maybe the Lord is speaking to you about the gifts that he has called you to. Maybe he's saying I have a purpose and a plan for you and I'm just not seeing you walking in it. And he's been making the way clear for you, he's opening the doors for you, but you're still afraid to move because of this fear, the shame, this feeling of unworthiness, this thought of what will others say about me, and it keeps us stuck in a place where we are. We want to move, but it's almost as if we can't move because we're thinking that if we move, what are people going to say? Only because they know the story. But can I tell you, the greatest story is that there is a reward in heaven waiting for us. There's a reward in heaven waiting for us. That's an eternal reward. But there's also the reward of seeing someone else coming to Christ, someone else walking in purpose, someone else who benefits from the gift that we are to them. That's a great gift. That we are to them. That's a great gift. Yes, it is. Yes it is.

Speaker 1: 9:30

Can I tell you a little bit about my own journey and my own story? Lack of self-confidence, self-esteem issues, feeling of unworthiness All those were things that held me back. All those were things that, oh my word, made me even cringe talking to someone else and sharing my story. But until the Lord reminded me of who I am, and he. Romans 8, 28,. I know you would know it is my favorite scripture and it says for we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose. I held on to that. I held on to that because what it did for me is to say all that has happened, know that I have accepted Christ as savior. He's going to make them all work out for my good. So, sitting down in these low feelings, these feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, self-esteem, lack of confidence, all of that, all the fear and the doubt that will stop us from moving should no longer have control over us and my friends. By no stretch of the imagination am I saying it's easy. I can tell you that it is not easy. But guess what happens? With God, all things are possible.

Speaker 1: 11:01

So walking the journey of purpose means that we need Christ on our side. Yes, we cannot do this without him, just as how we cannot live this life of faith, this Christian walk, without Christ. We can't do the purpose which he's created us for. We can't do it without him, each step of the way, every day. We have to trust him for his direction, we have to trust him for his leadership, we have to trust him for his clarity and we have to trust him for his leadership. We have to trust him for his clarity and we have to trust him for his help. Just to get it done. We can't do it by ourselves. So Christ did it for you, he did it for me, he did it for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us to give us life, to give us hope, to give us a future. And in that, in all of that that he has given us, he's also placed on the inside of us something a desire to accomplish the plans and the purposes for our lives. But we have to be willing. We have to be willing to let go of the shame, to let go of the condemnation, to let go of everything that will hinder us.

Speaker 1: 12:20

And I want to speak especially to my sisters who are afraid of using their voice. You're afraid of speaking up, you're afraid of just telling others about where you've been, what you've done and how God has made a difference. I cannot. I can empathize because I was there and there are days when I still struggle with that. Can I encourage you? Start? Start by asking what stole your voice? What was it? And as the Holy Spirit revealed that to you, I pray that you will trust him and ask him to help you to get over this, to find your voice, so that you can walk in purpose for his life. Walk in purpose so that his will will be accomplished in your life.

Speaker 1: 13:15

What are you struggling with today? What has God called you to do? How can you trust him, the one who gave it all for you? How can you trust him to use you for his glory and his honor? Might I remind you that he's equipped you, he's empowered you, he's given you everything that you need to do, all that he has called you to do. May I pray with you today, and just before I do, I just want to remind you, and just before I do, I just want to remind you, that God sees you, god knows you, he's aware of what you're going through and all he's asking you to do is to trust him, trust his timing, trust his hand. He will show up for you, whatever challenges you're facing, to walk in his purpose. Give it to him and watch him do the exceeding, the, abundantly the above all that you could ever ask or even imagine, according to the power that works within us.

Speaker 1: 14:23

So, heavenly Father, I place my sister, my friend, before you. You know what she's going through, you know the challenges that she's faced with. You know her desire to walk in purpose, to make a difference in the lives of those whom you've assigned her to. But you know the feelings of unworthiness, the feelings of shame. You know everything, lord, that is going on in her head, that is causing her to doubt that you are using her, that you want to use her. I pray that you will remind her today, god, in the name of Jesus, christ of Nazareth, that, lord, you have a good plan for her.

Speaker 1: 15:04

Your word tells us in Jeremiah 29, 11,. For we know that all things work together. Sorry, daddy, in Jeremiah for I know the plans I have for you says the lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and an expected end. So, wherever you are today, whatever your struggles are, be reminded God is with you. God is with you. Amen and amen. I want to thank you so much for listening to our episode today. If you find value in it, I hope that you will consider subscribing or following on Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, if you want to support the show because it's for value in it, would you look in the description? There is a way to support us. Thank you so much and see you next time on another Position for purpose. Conversations with Colette Marie.