We are living in a Selfie world. A selfie is a picture taken "of yourself by yourself" using a smartphone. One insight through my gruelling journey with shame and chronic anxiety is I need to be saved from me or the "selfie-life."
Here is a selfie list from my struggle with shame and chronic anxiety:
- Self-consciousness: what will people think?
- Self-criticism: what's wrong with me?
- Self-pity: what about me?
- Self-protection: how can I protect myself?
- Self-reliance: can I do it myself?
- Self-blame: what have I done to deserve this?
- Self-rejection: do I even belong here?
- Self-gratification: how can I numb my pain?
FOR THOUGHT AND CONTEMPLATION
The only remedy to the destructive selfie-life is unconditional surrender. We often associate the word "surrender" with the bitter and humiliating resignation of defeat in war.
Jesus has rewritten the script of life and profoundly proclaimed a Kingdom paradox: "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self." [Mark 8:35, MSG]
We don't need another "self-help" book to assist us in navigating through our brokenness and shame. What we do need is to surrender our agenda and seek "Jesus-help" to transform our broken lives.
It's time for Death to Selfie.
It's time to welcome the blessedness of self-forgetfulness.
It's time to renew our passionate gaze upon the glory of God.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."
—Psalm 139:23-24 [NLT]
Pray to God to reveal how the "selfie-life" has recently manifested in your life.
With a spirit of humility, confess your sin before God and surrender your life afresh to His dynamic reign in your life.
By Rob Mason - Shame off you devotional.
Listen to this message from Life Church - Get over yourself.
