Love God Greatly: Shame BreakerSample

Do you ever wonder how long Adam and Eve lived in the garden before their colossal fall? Was it a few weeks, a few months, or many years? Many of us think we could have done better. How hard is it to stay away from one tree? But temptation is a strong pull on the heart that makes us believe we know better than God. 

The shame of sin came into the world in the blink of an eye. Because of sin, everything became skewed. The way we interact with God and others, the way we view ourselves, our worldview, our work ethic, our word choices, our thought life—all of it has been affected by sin. 

With sin comes shame. Shame makes us feel bad about ourselves. It makes us want to cover our mistakes, which often leads to us engaging in more sin. The worst part is that the shame of sin often keeps us from God. We do not pray as much, we do not read His Word like we should, we do not repent, and maybe, we even ignore gathering with other believers. Shame is strong. There are days when it can feel as though we will never escape its clutches. When you feel the crushing weight of shame, remember: God is stronger. He has prepared a way back through Jesus and is ready to welcome you home.

Lord, I do not fully understand how terrible sin is. I struggle with loving my sins and feeling shame over them. Help me Lord! Show me Your ways are better, Your love is unconditional, and Your power can change the darkest parts of my heart. Amen.

As we study the Bible, we use the SOAP Bible Study Method. The acronym stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. 

The SOAP Method includes four steps:

1. Scripture. Write out the verses at least one time. Slow down and copy the passage from the text, focusing on what you are writing. Writing it more than one time is always helpful.

2. Observation. Take time to carefully observe the passage. What do you see in the verses you’re reading? Who is the intended audience? To whom is the writer speaking? What cultural factors are at play? Are any words or themes repeated? What literary devices are being used?

3. Application. After carefully observing what is happening in the passage, determine the main message or truth of the passage. How can you apply this truth to your life?

4. Prayer. Pray God’s Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time, pray about it. Confess any sin God has revealed. Pray through the truth of the passage.