John said, ‘I’m not even worthy to be the Messiah’s slave.’  Unworthiness has so many faces, but only one kind is righteous.  John’s statement emanated from worship, not self-loathing. For any of us who have suffered from the toxic kind of unworthiness, we agree that it felt like a holy thing at the time.  Satan made sure of that.  

The enemy is out to destroy joy.  If he can’t keep me from following Jesus, he’ll keep me from the fuel that gives me joy.  God’s love.  He’ll twist scriptures to cause me to believe that I didn’t deserve to be chosen.  Because he is the most cunning accuser, he’ll use my worst sins to seek to prove it.  He’ll replay the hurtful comments of others about my past like a broken record.  All of this leads to self-hatred.  Any of us who have knelt at the feet of Jesus, never feeling like we could raise our heads out of the dirt, missed the joy of looking up and being surprised by Love.

The shame of unworthiness is healed in only one place.  In the arms of Jesus.  If I could see the light in His eyes wash over me today, unworthiness would disappear like a flash. 

Lord, I’m a dancer, not a wallower.  Amen