Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. – Psalm 51:1

Very often we don’t want to own our mistakes. We want to blame others. In truth what we’re trying to do very often in being defensive is prove ourselves to others, and not prove ourselves to God. We know that God sees the mistakes that we make, but we feel a lack of self worth. We feel defensive so we’re always just trying to prove ourselves to others. Friends, you don’t have anything to prove. You are loved by God. And his grace is sufficient for all of the mistakes that we’ve made. And this is Christianity’s answer to the issue of shame.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for your grace and your mercy. Help me to accept your grace and not be defensive. Amen.

REFLECTION: How can I accept God’s grace today instead of being defensive?