HOW CAN I LET GO OF GUILT & SHAME? 

Part 2 of 4 in Intro to Agape

When I look into a mirror, do I see my reflection?  When the Lord looks into me, does He see His reflection? 

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him…” Gen 1:27. We are created to be His mirror and reflect His image. But things we let get between us and Him block His reflection. The farther away we get, the smaller His reflection. Leave His presence… decrease the light… you know where this goes! 

Even after your life is turned over to the Lord, forgiven, the sinful habits, thoughts, beliefs, commitments… are still there, blocking, distorting His reflection through us. “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. …and we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” 2 Cor 3:16, 18.

You get it: Holy Spirit lives in you! But all the sin of old sinful habits, thoughts, beliefs, commitments, needs to be dealt with before a clear image of Him can fully be reflected. “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…” Romans 8:29. That’s what we are all being called to right now, isn’t it?

I ask truly and the Lord forgives, calling me to Disciple’s Mountain. 

“ Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” Matt 7:13-14. Off you went! Yes Lord, Yes!

You took off eager, excited, full of anticipation, ready to change the world. But now that you’ve been on the trail, you’ve realized that a lot of what you’re carrying is blocking His reflection and interfering with your GPS’sreception. 

Meanwhile, your GPS is trying to send real-time feedback: the Lord is having trouble reflecting Himself through you! Calibration Key: All the weight you’re carrying is not only exhausting – it’s blocking the Lord’s reflection. 

Hunched over by the weight, just staring at the few feet of trail in front of you, it feels impossible to lift your head and take in the awesome beauty all around! “This – weight – has – got – to – go!” You’re ready to get rid of most anything blocking His reflection, and His communication, and stealing joy.

A clear signal finally makes it through your GPS: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” Rom 12:2.

Another signal comes on the heels of the first, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” Phil 2:12-13. 

Not conformed, but transformed.

It hits you: “working out your salvation” and “not being conformed to this world, but being transformed” is the whole point of your journey on Disciples!  

A new sense of purpose and focus reinvigorate you as you approach Reflection Lake – a great spot to rest and reevaluate, refresh and consider what the Lord has said about “working out your salvation” and “not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

The sunset over Reflection Lake is breathtaking as you wonder what to stop carrying to remove the heavy burden on the trail. Another GPS message comes through but the signal is bad – so it comes in little chunks: 

“…one thing I do:  … forgetting what lies behind   … and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  … I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God   … in Christ Jesus” Phil 3:13-14. 

I forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. 

The sun’s reflection glimmering off the lake, it sinks in: “I can’t change my past, but I CAN learn from it and by looking forward and not back, change my future.” 

You unpack your Prayer Journal and begin to write! 

• “The power of forgetting… 
• The power of forgiving… 
• The power of reaching forward to what lies ahead… ” 

“Press toward the goal, the upward call of God!” you declare, realizing the prize is yours for the receiving. The prize IS the call. “I forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God.”

You crack up laughing out loud while writing in your Prayer Journal – realizing the imagery: 

Looking backward going forward = LOTS of pain and trouble!

It makes complete sense as you write: 

• “The things we let get between us and the Lord block His reflection through us.” 
• “Don’t let the past have the power to distract from the beauty all around and steal joy now and in the future.” 
• “Learn from what is behind, and focus on what lies ahead. In this way, you can press on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

After spending some very special time in prayer, you write:  

• “I was created to be His mirror and reflect His image.” 
• “I can’t change the past, but I can change the future,” and fall asleep deeply. 
• “I LET GO and LET GOD!” I declare it to all creation… I fall into Papa God’s strong, loving arms. Oh, what a release you feel. “LET GO and LET GOD!” 

After a GREAT sleep and breakfast, a clear signal comes through the GPS: As we “…put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” Col 3:9-10. 

GPS CALIBRATION KEY: God’s Fruit grows or doesn’t grow as you put off the old self and put on the new. The journey of “working out your salvation,” and putting on the “new self,” “who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” IS the journey. 

“Holy Spirit, grow Yourself in me” you pray, realizing your ability to reflect God requires His presence. The closer He is, the clearer the reflection. 

“…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I am a new creation. I let go of my guilt and shame. I can’t change my past, but I CAN change my future.

PRAYER JOURNAL:

Q: Have I been “saved from spiritual death to spiritual life in Christ” and placed on this brand new journey? Yes / No

If you have not yet bowed your heart, mind and strength and chosen the Lord Most High as your leader, and you want to, this is your chance. Take a moment to do it now.

Q: Assuming there is nothing between me and God, His reflections will be clearer, the closer I am to him. How clear would I rate myself?   < <  Unclear   1   2   3   4   5  Very clear  > >

PRAY:    

Tell the Lord the things you want and need to be forgiven for. Take your time. Go to Him with those burdens. Say “forgive me, Lord…” and tell Him whatever you need to say right now. 

Invite Him to come into and spiritually activate your soul, as your King, your only faithful GPS. 

If you’ve made that decision today, welcome to the family of God! Please reach out and let us celebrate with you, and if you would like any resources going forward in your journey, we would like to offer them to you. 

Contemplation:  

Romans 8:31-38

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AFFIRM. MEDITATE. CONTEMPLATE:

I am a child of God. I am an heir of heaven. Nothing can separate me from the Love of God!