#18 Joy Evicts Shame

So many of the verses about joy found in the Bible are contextually about sin. Sin and darkness leave us in a state of mourning. God exchanges the sadness with gladness. One of the reasons, I’m convinced, is because sin breeds shame in our hearts. Many times, long after the sin is dealt with and removed, shame still lurks behind. Friends, we have to kick that baby out.

Satan loves to live in the past. It’s his only home because he has no future. When we belong to the Lord, we have hope and future. Read the following excerpt, it’s spot on.

excerpt from Laugh It Up by Candace Payne

“…you may have felt Joy’s tug on your life but repeatedly feel stuck or unable or unworthy. Can I be candid? That’s Shame sitting on the couch of your heart, enjoying every second of his smug, slobbish behavior. You will not find joy able to live peacefully with Shame. They are incapable of taking the same space in your thoughts, heart, and decision making.

…this is a moment to pause and hear me if you refuse to hear anything else. You cannot skip this. Don’t expect a joyful life while you continually entertain and host lies that seek to steal, kill, and destroy it. Draw up the papers, walk down the hall, and nail the eviction notice to Shame’s bedroom door. Kick the spiteful and bullying liar to the curb, throw his belongings to the curb, throw his belongings out the window, and then change the locks.

Next? Pour yourself a glass of sweet of tea, take a deep breath, and put up your feet in your favorite chair because this is the house where Joy lives, and this is where you belong.”