Devotionals

Devotional: Less Shame, More Joy {Psalm 71:23}

By: Lindsey Bomgren, CPT | January 18, 2019

‘My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.’ {Psalm 71:23 ESV}

Some say, “Don’t give up”
And hope that your good is good enough
Head down, keep on working
If you could earn it, you deserve it
Some say, “Push on through”
After all, it’s the least that you can do
But don’t buy, what they’re selling
It couldn’t be further from the truth…

If you’re heard the song ‘Best News Ever’ from MercyMe these lyrics sound familiar to you.

Do you ever hear a song and think it was written for you? That’s how I feel about this song.

I’m a personal development junkie. Reading all the self-help books and listening to all the podcasts. I love learning from others, and I love success stories; specifically how people built their small businesses.

I know I’m not alone here, I mean the personal-development space is a $10 billion industry.

But for me, consuming too much personal development content can be a vicious cycle

I’m not doing enough.
Head down, keep on working — hustle, hustle, hustle.
Push through, add one more daily to-do, wake up one hour earlier, one more, one more…

Always looking for my next achievement. Feeling shame for taking a weekend nap, taking a night away from my computer, or taking a day off because my worth is found in my achievements.

Then I heard this… ‘Achievement without enjoyment is failure.’

I hate the ‘F’ word, failure. But my pride can single-handedly steal my joy.

When I feel the joy slipping from my work as a wife, mother, and small business owner; that’s when I know it’s time to set all other books aside and pick up the greatest self-help book there is: The Bible.

So I can be reminded where my worth comes from — not from my achievements. No, there’s nothing I can do that makes me better than anyone else in God’s eyes. How humbling!

So I’ve written this at the top of my notebook this week, ‘Less shame, more joy! My worth comes from God, not my prideful accomplishments.’

Now crank up MercyMe and sing with me:
‘What if I were the one to tell you
That the fight’s already been won
Well, I think your day’s about to get better
What if I were the one to tell you
That the work’s already been done
It’s not good news
It’s the best news ever
Best news ever’

Devotional Prayer: Finding Your Worth

Dear God,
When I feel the joy slipping from my work as a wife, mother, and small business owner, bring me back to your Word.
So I can be reminded of the Best News Ever;
there’s nothing I can do that makes me better than anyone else in your eyes.
That’s what the cross is for.

**Note, if you’re someone that feels the ‘guilt’ of taking time off, or motherhood; I highly suggest listening to Jen Hatmaker’s For the Love Podcast — Getting vulnerable with Dr. Brenè Brown where she explains the difference between guilt and shame.

Looking for other faith-based posts? You can find my previous weekly Devotional posts by clicking here.