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Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Sunday, we continued our series “Be Still” at Kfirst. In this new series of talks, we want to look at the “stillness of the soul” that, as the people of God, are called to possess. To “be still” is more than ceasing from doing anything or finding a quiet place. It’s a peace that captures the essence of who we are. It is the deep, calm, confident, stillness of the soul that only Christ can provide.

Week 3 was a special morning as we turned our attention to Elizabeth’s words to Mary in Luke 1. It’s here in vs. 45 she says,

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

In the face of the shame she most likely faced culturally, Mary chose to cling to what God spoke versus what others would think and/or say. For so many, shame has become a stain that clings to them and shows in everything they do.

When it comes to shame:

1. Shame is the staging area for struggle.
   • On D-Day, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. It was critical that they establish a beachhead, that is, a foothold on the beach that would allow them to setup a staging area to bring in more men and equipment for the battle. From that tiny foothold, the Allied forces were able to push inland in an effort to get a victory. 
   • When we entertain guilt, we allow a staging area of shame. And every foothold I allow for guilt and shame, I allow becomes a staging area for a stronghold in my life.
2. Shame creates a spiritual nearsightedness. It prevents you from seeing/sensing what God is going to do.
   • The shame of “shame” is the way it keeps you the same. And it want to blind you from envisioning life beyond what shame offers.

KNOW THIS: (1) We have all been affected and (2) But we can all be free. So what do we do? We do EXACTLY what Mary did.

We believe what God says about us and we live from that place.

What areas of life do you feel shame? How are you handling the shame? What is God inviting you into as you deal with the shame?

This week, whenever you sense a moment of shame, invite Christ into that and live from what He says about you.

Love you all. Have an amazing week.