Today after I led worship at a church service, I was sitting and reflecting. During that time I began to think of all the times when I have felt too embarrassed at church to let my guard down and cry or ask for prayer, etc. and I was asking God why I would ever feel that way because most often I’m not afraid of being vulnerable and immediately God spoke to me, “Lisa, embarrassment is a form of pride.”
Wow. Like a shot to the heart, I felt holy conviction mixed with a revelatory understanding pierce my soul. Past situations of embarrassment flooded my mind and like peeling the layers from an onion, I began to see the root of it all was, in fact, pride.
Have you ever thought of that before?
Embarrassment is a form of pride. Just let that sink in a minute. It hurts to swallow that thought, doesn’t it?
God, help me to never again suffer from the pride of embarrassment. Let my only concern be to do Your will.
Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
This scripture pierces my heart. There have been countless times when I would want to share some of the gospel in one public setting or another, but embarrassment would hold me back. How long have I been controlled by this? Unfortunately, it’s been happening for as long as I can remember. Yet another place to push past my comfort zone. I want to be as proud of the Father as He is of me.
Today I challenge you to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place where pride has masqueraded as embarrassment to fool you into holding back. Let the Father melt off that fear of man and pour out His Spirit upon you. Repent for anytime you have been ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Repent for anytime you failed to share with others, your affection for the Father. Then let the Father bring restoration to your spirit and receive the boldness to lovingly proclaim the gospel.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance. Acts 28:31
Let us all find the courage the apostles had when proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
365 Days in the Presence 