By Robert
There are 122 references for ashamed in the Bible. I can remember a time when a neighborhood kid chose another boy as a friend over me. Then there was a time some adults applauded one kid riding his dirt bike while waving me off. I felt ashamed. I came to believe something was wrong with me.
Guilt is the feeling of regret over violating a personal value. Shame is a painful feeling about oneself as a person. Shame is a matter of identity, not a behavioral infraction. It is a feeling of being diminished or insufficient as a person, of being depersonalized-just an object to be used and discarded. Abusive treatment from others can cause this. Being punished rather than disciplined, being told we are stupid or will never amount to anything are all examples of how shame comes into our lives.
I have recently seen some new ways I had yet to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. In one instance, I realized I had believed I was not worthy of better treatment. It was a lie I had believed about who I was. As I acknowledged my pain, God spoke healing there. He told me I was more precious than silver and gold! This rhema word brought a whole new sense of peace in some areas of struggle in my life, and I know this is something God wants to do for all of us.
I think this is an excellent article. First I had to recognize my inner feelings of low self esteem, then I came to understand how much the Lord loved me. Healing is a miracle of God and He tells us of His love repeatedly in His word.