SHAME OFF YOUSample

Day 6.

DEATH TO SELFIE

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

—Philippians 2:5-8 [NIV]

We are living in a selfie world. A selfie is a picture taken “of yourself by yourself” using a smartphone. One insight through my grueling 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.