Covered In His Love

You know that feeling you have when you know you've done something you shouldn't have? It's a feeling common to human beings that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. The first two people God created lived in a perfect environment God had created for them. The Bible tells us they "were not ashamed." An antonym for the word shame is pride.

Adam and Eve were filled with pride. Good pride. They were proud of who God had made them to be: loved and loving creatures with great purpose and worth. God was proud of them, and they were living in the light of His love. He was delighted with His creation. They were precious to Him. Everything He had created, from the lush plants and fruit, to the beautiful animals and stars in the sky, He had made for them. For their enjoyment, to provide for their needs, and to reveal His glory. He wanted them to know they were special.

But then something happened. Something dreadful. God gave them a warning and a command, and they didn't listen and obey. They didn't trust in His wisdom and love. They trusted in themselves and someone who lied to them. The Bible says as soon as they did this, they became fearful and hid themselves from God's presence. They covered their bodies to try to hide their sin, but they couldn't. They felt shame they were not created to ever feel. They lost their sense of pride as God's beloved creation.

When we do things we know are wrong today, the same thing happens. There isn't anything we can do to keep the shame from overtaking us, and our first instinct is to hide. Our hearts are overtaken by fear of judgement, and we think, 'I need to cover this. I need to run and hide. I need to protect my heart from this feeling of shame.'

The only problem with that is, it's impossible. The only way to regain the pride we are meant to live in is to allow God to cover our sin. Not to hide it from Him and keep our distance, but to go to Him and say, 'I messed up. I didn't listen to you and obey. I did my own thing. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Please cover me in your love.'

It's an amazing feeling to have the shame covered by the only One who can. Not only because the shame fades, but also because the belief of who He has made us to be returns. To know we are valued and loved is vital to our survival and happiness.

In John 3, Jesus talked to a man named Nicodemus who was living in a great state of shame and was doing everything he could to get rid of it--to cover himself. He belonged to a group of highly religious people who thought they could attain perfection by living a perfect life. They tried to cover their sin with good deeds and rituals they believed would make them holy and worthy in God's eyes. They were righteous to a fault. They were doing a lot of good and right things but for the wrong reasons.

But Nick knew something was missing. He knew trying to cover his shame wasn't working. He came to Jesus at night because he was afraid of what others would think of him going to a new rabbi who was teaching strange new things about God. Jesus talked about God's mercy and love, about forgiveness and repentance. He told them they didn't need to try and hide their sin or make up for it, but  rather to confess their sins and be cleansed by God.

God's forgiveness was what they needed, and it was so easy to receive, but many didn't believe it could be that simple. Many others did believe, and they knew it was true because they experienced the release from shame and fear. They were overtaken by God's mercy and love, and they were reborn. Their pride in who they were as God's children returned, and they stopped hiding in the darkness. They came into the light of God's love and forgiveness and truth. And they were no longer ashamed.

You may be feeling shame for many things. Perhaps because you are trying to cover your sin rather than letting Jesus cover you with His forgiveness and love, or perhaps because you don't truly believe in His forgiveness. You know He forgives, but you don't feel forgiven. Either way you need to step out of the darkness and into the light. Out of the lies and into the truth.

Talk to God about how you feel. Don't try to cover feelings of shame yourself--let Jesus do it. Let Him cover you with His love.


"You desire honesty from the heart...Give me back my joy again." Psalm 51:6,8 (NLT)

Knowing Your God

Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Ephesians 5:17 (NLT)

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "What is God's will for my life?" Have you figured it out yet, or are you still wondering? Perhaps you have thought in terms of specific things you are meant to do, such as having a particular career, a calling in ministry, or impacting those around you. Or perhaps you think in more philosophical terms: 'God's will for me is to glorify Him, serve Him, and love Him; God's will for me is to live a good, productive life and make the most of the blessings He gives.'

When I read the above words in Ephesians 5:17, I initially interpreted Paul's words to say, 'Don't live thoughtlessly, but know God's will for your life. Anything else is a waste of time, so figure it out!' I felt burdened by the words because most of the time I feel clueless. I often do what I feel God leads me to do, but I often don't see the results I'm hoping for, and it makes me wonder, 'Am I hearing Him right, or am I off in left field somewhere?' I often pray, "God, show me what you want me to do, tell me, lead me, and I'll do it. Teach me your will, and I'll live by it." But just when I think He has me on a certain path, a roadblock or detour comes along and I think, 'Where did I go wrong? Now I'm really lost!'

But I read Paul's words again, and Jesus made me think of them in another way. And after doing a little research on the word understand, I knew I was hearing it correctly this time. It's not only about knowing what God wants me to do, but knowing why He wants me to do it. What is His motive? Why does He command me to do certain things and not do others? Why does He lead me on certain paths and gift me in specific ways? What is He trying to teach me or show me? How is He trying to guide me or protect me? What is His heart behind the instructions, commands, and tasks He gives?

I believe God's will for my life is to know Him. But knowing Him is a process. It takes time and experience. In difficult times I can see how mighty He is and who He can empower me to be. In joyful times I can see His goodness. In obeying His commands I see His protection and truth. In taking the path He lays before me I see His faithfulness and who He has made me to be. In trusting Him I find Him trustworthy. In seeking Him I find Him accessible. In following Him I find Him worth following. In knowing Him I find His love. It's often not about what He wants me to do, but what He wants to do for me.

Whatever you currently feel God leading you to do, that is His will for you today. Whether it's to obey a particular command, do a specific task, make a certain decision, or to simply listen and wait for His instructions. But ask yourself this question before you obey: 'Why does He want me to do that?' Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what he wants you to do.

If you don't know why, ask Him. Listen, study His Word for the answer, or ask someone who has been through something similar what they learned through the process of obedience, trust, or waiting. Or perhaps you just need to do it and see what happens. How are you blessed? How are others impacted? What does God teach you about Himself? God doesn't want us to be in the dark about where He is leading us and why. He is light. He is truth. "Everything hidden will be brought into the light," Jesus said.  Allow Him to enlighten you today.

I pray for you constantly, asking God to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. Ephesians 1:16-18 (NLT)