What Are You Ashamed Of?

Psalm 119:31 - "I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame."

What are you ashamed of?

"Wow, that's bold," you may say.

"None of your business," may be your reply.

And, you know what? You're right. It is bold. And, it's not really any of my business.

But, if you are like me, there are things about your life that you hope are never broadcast for the rest of the world to see. There are ugly parts of your life, hidden away in some secret place that you don't want anyone else to know about. And, try as we may, it's futile to try to hide it from God. You may have something that you have been able to hide from every single other living person, but to God it's known, and has been from the very beginning.

I wonder why David is almost pleading with God here not to be put to shame. It sounds a little bit to me like David is trying to make a deal with God.

"I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;" it's here where I want to editorialize and add the words, "Really, I do."

"do not let me be put to shame."

If David truly held fast to the statutes of God, he would have nothing to be ashamed of. But, we know that David, like you and like me was a sinner. And, it's our sin that should cause us to feel shame.

There is a difference between feeling shame and being put to shame though. I believe that David was truly pleading that God would not put him to shame. He had seen many men put to shame through their own arrogance and feeling that they didn't need God. He didn't want to be one of them. May we not be that person either.

So, what are you ashamed of?

Here are some practical suggestions.

1) Confess it to God. It's about time. It's not as though it will be a surprise to Him.

2) Agree with God that it is wrong. And ask God for the strength to walk away from it.

3) Find a person or group of people that you can trust and confess your sins to them. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to each other. Don't pick just anyone to confess to. Find someone or some people that will hold you accountable and ask you how you are doing in relation to that sin on a regular basis.

4) Pray . . . Pray . . . Pray

God wants to take that shame and turn it into rejoicing for the work that He is doing in your life.

Praise God for the gift of His grace and mercy, and for His correcting hand in our lives.

Dear God,

Like David, we ask that You would keep us from shame. Give us the courage to walk with you and walk away from sin. Thank You that You love to change lives. Begin with us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.