Lifting my head

He extended his arms to her and gently raised her head so she would look him in the eyes.

“Come here, baby girl. Lift your head up.”

He caressed and reassured her.

“Daddy always wants you to lift your head. There’s no reason to look down.”

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Our dog has this habit of walking with her head down. Sometimes she even approaches you, cowers, and tucks her tail in between her legs.

Some would say she’s overly submissive, and I agree.

Others would say it’s a result of being disciplined, and I would also agree.

And yet others would say she knows when she’s done something wrong. Agreed.

But this isn’t about my dog. It’s about me. It’s about you. It’s about what we do when we approach God–and others. Our pasts weigh us down.

• Lies.
• Cheating.
• Abuse.
• Addictions.
• Hurts.

We feel humiliated, beat down, guilty, and ashamed.

God wants me–He wants you–He wants us to approach Him. He wants to forgive us. He wants to lift our heads. When we accept His forgiveness, there is no reason to hang our heads.

If you set your heart on God and reach out to him, If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home, You’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless. You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs. Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring. Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again. ~Job 11:13-18

If we would only look to Him!

Our faces are never covered with shame. ~Psalm 34:5

God will shield us from shame. He will ground our feet. He will lift our heads high. Psalm 3:3

 Come here, my child.

Come alongside…What keeps you from holding your head high? Would you allow your Daddy to forgive you, to raise your head, and blot out your shame?