What Voice Are You Listening To?

Should I go shopping today for a new shirt? "Yes," says one voice, "you deserve it, you have worked hard and spent little money on yourself."
The other voice says, "can you afford it? do you need it?"

I have been thinking lately that all through our day we hear many voices telling us what to do, and also telling us messages of who we are. There is the voice that encourages and affirms us; and there is another voice that constantly remind us when we fail and when we dont measure up.

Recently, I am coming to see that shame has a life of its own. Shame has a voice, and sometimes its voice is louder than any other voice around. Shame says "I am wrong, there is something defective about me." Shame never imparts truth or life to us and is always there waiting to condemn.

Should we have guilt when we do something wrong? Yes of course, but guilt is admitting what I did was wrong; while shame is saying I AM wrong.

I have been spending time with Father lately asking Him to show me the affects of shame. Not just for the benefit of helping others, but also how it has affected my life. How many times have I listened to that voice and therefore chose to not follow through with plans, because of the lies I chose to believe? How many times does the voice of shame interupt what grace filled messages Father has been wanting me to hear?

It is because of shame that we let a comment devastate us.
It is because of shame that we sometimes don't even bother trying.
It is because of shame we try to perform for acceptance.
It is because of shame that we believe there is something we have to do to make us more acceptable.

We who are in Christ are completely acceptable, whether we always feel it or not. Does Jesus Christ not live in us? Then how could we be wrong? for what place does light have living in dark?

Father, your sheep know your voice. Let us purpose to hear your voice above all the crowds.

Til Next Time,

Jacqueline PS. Casting Crowns has a song "Voice of Truth" - give it a listen!