Look What You’ve Done!
Did you read the title as a statement of reproach or celebration? You can look at it both ways. Have you ever gone from celebration to shame in 2.3 seconds flat? I have. Well, maybe it took a little longer.
I just finished week two of writing school, and it was quite a week! Lots of wonderful lessons, fellowship, laughter, and I even like the writing process. I was kind of terrified that I wouldn’t, honestly. It turns out that I like it. Praise God for that or it would be a stinkin’ long two years.
Sitting down at your computer with a minuscule sliver of an idea and only an hour to make it come to life is pretty darned exciting!
Get Lost in Shame, Found in Christ
Somewhere along the way, though, I lost my way. Temporarily, people! I’m still here. Hopefully, a little wiser thanks to Jesus.
What was the problem? I started out September praising God for his goodness. Which is always a great place to start. There’s this song I had on my heart a lot, sung by Tasha Layton titled “Look What You’ve Done.”
I sang it a lot in the car as I thanked God for making a new path for me and bringing me joy. Please just go buy it for yourself and listen to it on repeat.
The premise of the song is that the enemy comes knocking at our door trying to accuse us and shame us, for anything and everything, saying “look what you’ve done!” He’s hoping we will end up cowering in fear, disqualified from our own race.
I love this song because she and co-writer Matthew West were able to convey the amazing power of God to stop the enemy in his tracks. One of my favorite lines is about how in His presence we can feel him digging up the roots of all the lies we have believed. Then He goes even further, healing the gaping wounds left in the enemy’s wake. Hallelujah, indeed!
Shame & Accusation
Guess what happens if you take your eyes off the prize (AKA, Jesus) for a second, and forget where your help comes from? That’s right…the same phrase becomes your condemnation. “Look what you’ve done,” you might hear whispered in your head. All it takes is one unguarded, insecure moment to start the cycle of worry and shame.
Here is the good news: Jesus never stops pulling up the weedy, thorny roots from the garden of your heart. He’s not content that any of his children should walk in darkness or shame. Sometimes the process of weeding and pruning is a bit painful. Though I’d rather have a moment of pain rather than live with the overgrown weeds of Pride, Insecurity, & Fear of Man camping out in my garden! How about you?
Truth from Romans
This week I was reading in Romans, and Paul says, “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:22-25, NIV
Paul delighted in God’s word, but was still an active participant in the battle against sin. But praise God the Father, we can call out to Jesus to deliver us from all of our weedy ways! And do you know what? He gets right in there and pulls those weeds up by the roots and throws them on the burn pile.
Paul reminds us that condemnation from others and especially from yourself is not OK, either. God sent his son Jesus to deal with the punishment for our sin and weakness once and for all. After repentance and agreement in faith that he set us free, we Stand on his promise that: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1, NIV
Next Time
You might know these verses well, but that doesn’t mean your heart knows them when shame comes knocking. Next time, tell the enemy as loudly as possible, “Get OUT!”
Then go listen to this song. Hallelujah for our Jesus. He gets the victory, every time. He deserves all our praise!
Look what You’ve done! Look what You’ve done in me. You spoke Your truth into the lies I let my heart believe. Look at me now, look how You made me new! The enemy did everything that he could do. Oh, but look what You’ve done!
Tasha Layton & Matthew West
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