Do you wear an “A” on your chest? Which letter “A” do you wear? The scarlet letter “A” of adultery, or the golden, shimmering “A” of God’s Anointed?
For the longest time, I literally felt like I had a scarlet “A” on my chest. I felt like I wore a big sign visible to the world that communicated my sin. I had had sex outside of marriage AND had gotten myself pregnant AND had remained unmarried. I felt the peering of eyes when just my son and I would enter the room. I often felt like eyes were searching me for a wedding ring and shame consumed me because one wasn't there.
Funny, the place I remember feeling this the most was at church. And unfortunately, that message came to me loud and clear from my own, very religious family. I had let down my parents and according to them, I had let down God. What a lie!
But how would I know any different if that’s the message I heard from those around me? How could I stop the recording that was playing that message in my mind over and over again?
Thank God He doesn’t leave us to live in the lie. He will use the Holy Spirit and get the truth through to you somehow. It is up to us to receive that truth, believe it and let it be real in our hearts.
Thank God He places lovely people or friends (like Embrace Grace!) in our lives to deliver to us that message of truth. I pray this message gets through to YOU…the truth is, you are forgiven. You are anointed. You are His chosen. You shine with His wonderful anointing.
One of the meanings of the word “anointed” means “chosen.” And that’s the truth whether you believe it in your heart right now or whether you feel like it. God has chosen you for great things.
To start with, He has chosen you to raise this child or children. You have the power to lay the foundation for how they see themselves. You never know what God has chosen your children to do in the future. God has chosen you and your children to touch other lives. God has chosen you to stand tall, healed, delivered, set free and victorious.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV), “Now he that established us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave us the guarantee of the Spirit in our hearts.
Don’t wear the scarlet letter of shame. That is a lie. God is NOT ashamed of you. He loves you. He is proud of you. Jesus paid the price for our mistakes and our mess ups. The choices you’ve made are no surprise to Him! There is nothing you could have done or could do in the future to make Him not love you. He lays before you the path to freedom and healing and forgiveness… even forgiveness of yourself!
Make up your mind now NOT to believe the lies and the voices of those who may speak of you in shame or see you in shame. That’s NOT the truth. Pray for those people. Once you see yourself differently in Christ, in time, they will see the difference too… and someday, they may even be proud of you too. BUT even if the people around you who are agreeing with the lie of shame never see you differently, that’s their problem. Their eyes are cloaked in a lie.
You ARE anointed, set apart and chosen for God’s great works. Let Him do great things in your life and with your family. Let God’s golden, shimmering anointing flow over you and out of you in your household. The world and the people around you won’t be able to help but notice the difference in you when you do! Let the joy and peace of God reign in the freedom He has given you.
Go out there and BE His anointed. Be who He has created you to be. Wear His golden “A” proudly on your chest!
Written by Lisa Ort Terry
