G. ADDRESSING EMOTIONAL NEEDS

Have you ever felt shame for the mistakes, bad decisions, addictions, parental decisions, marriage decisions, and the list goes on? You feel overwhelmed by shame. In the Bible David’s son Absalom, has rebelled against his father and he is growing in popularity to become the new King to replace David. The threat to David’s life sends him into fear, grief, and shame because he is faced with his failures as a parent, personally and morally.  David cries out to God at this time and unfolds his shame. What solution does God give him? Read Psalm 25:1-22

Psalm 25:1-22:

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. ² I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. ³ No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. ⁴ Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. ⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. ⁸ Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. ⁹ He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. ¹⁰ All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. ¹¹ For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. ¹² Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. ¹³ They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. ¹⁴ The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. ¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. ¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. ¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. ¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. ¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! ²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. ²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. ²² Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

1. What did you observe about the shame that David felt?

2. How did you discover him attempting to deal with this shame?

3. What thoughts in this Psalm do you relate to?
4. What solutions did you see David pursue in dealing with Shame?

4. What key concepts did he build into his heart and thinking?

1. How could you apply these in your life to your issues and thoughts?

2. What steps can you take to appropriate this solution in your heart?

3. When will you get started in this journey?