“Fear not, for you will not be put to shame neither feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced, but you will forget the shame of your youth.” – Isaiah 54:4

Notes:

We will be starting a new series on strongholds.  A stronghold is defined as a fortress or a wall that has been placed in the mind of a believer that greatly hinders their growth in the Lord, and can cause deep mental, emotional, or spiritual pain.  These walls are established as a false means of control and protection from oneself or from others.  They are either created by the person, or by the Satan and his workers.  When created, they are then lodged into the person’s mind and heart until it becomes apart of their identity and who they are.  Today will be deal with the stronghold of shame.

Shame is defined as a painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something done that was dishonorable, improper, or disgraceful.  The inability to “measure up” to expectations (true or false) from a parent, a spouse, or an employer, can build into a mountain of shame that leaves one feeling inadequate and worthless.  A sinful or horrible act done during childhood can create a deep subterranean ocean of shame that carries on throughout adult life and until death.  People who carry the burden of shame commonly feel that they must overachieve to become “unashamed”, and ultimately end up becoming isolated individuals who have short-lived relationships.  

After shame is grounded into the person’s mind, it then will transform them into a chameleon that causes them to adapt as a different person in different situations at different times.  People with shame are afraid that if anyone knows the “real them”, then exposure will result in failure of their expectations.  There is also evidence in the medical field that ongoing feelings of shame can cause high levels of stress in the brain, which in turn can actually cause physical illnesses.  Such illnesses include cardiac problems, and weaknesses and deficiencies of the immune system.  

Willing to Take the Challenge?

The great promise of God, spoken through His Word in the above passage, is that no matter how shameful you feel, He can cause you to forget the “shame of your youth”, and be filled with the oil of gladness and shouts of joy.  So the question now is: What do you have to do for this to be removed from your life?  The answer is simple:

1. Acknowledge it
2. Lift it up unto the risen Christ
3. Understand that He took your shame on the Cross
4. Receive the joy that He longs to give you, and walk it out in thanksgiving!