When You're Battling Inner Criticism - Your Nightly Prayer - November 1st

Your Nightly Prayer

Audio By Carbonatix

By Chelsea Ohlemiller, Crosswalk.com

Your Nightly Prayer

When You’re Battling Inner Criticism
Your Nightly Prayer
by Chelsea Ohlemiller

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - (Romans 8:1, NIV)

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Who is your worst and most harsh critic? Oftentimes, we fail to realize that the most vulnerable and truthful answer is ourselves. Just as easily as we create our daily to-dos, we make a mental list of all the ‘could haves’ and ‘should haves’. We analyze the worthiness, the impact, and often the benefit of the outcomes we’ve experienced each day.

We carry around a heavy weight of shame, guilt, and condemnation built, not from fact, but from the enemy. God’s word specifically contrasts our thoughts of negativity and bitter self-criticism. We don’t have to pretend shame doesn’t exist. Jesus himself felt the weight of shame, though not from his own sin. He knew shame wouldn’t prevail, but love and grace would be the beautiful and lasting triumphs.

You may not have done everything right today. You may not have accomplished everything you hoped or envisioned. You might have been a less than polished version of yourself, one you feel the imperfections of, and still, it’s okay. You’re okay. You’re loved and covered in mercy.

Did you forget that God’s grace isn’t earned through perfection or a carefully checked off list of daily accomplishments?

When night comes and darkness leads to silence, shame often gets loud. It is up to you to remember that the loudest in the room, or our thoughts, isn’t always the one with the message you’re meant for, and it’s certainly not always the message of truth. God doesn’t need to be loud. His messages and truth hold the same power whether they are whispered or spoken, and even more prolific if they are never even spoken and instead only read or known.

Trust Him. Believe Him. Comprehend his beautiful offerings.

He holds you close, not to count your errors or to zoom in on your flaws, but to always provide you with peace and grace.

As you lie your head down to rest, take a deep breath. Let go of the weight and the responsibility of today and fill your mind with God’s mercy and love. Remind yourself that God’s grace extends to your heart’s regrets of the past, your noted flaws of today, and all the unknowns that will find you beyond this very minute. You’re covered, entirely and unwaveringly.

Silence shame, tonight and always, by listening to the voice of authenticity and truth, the only one that matters- Him.

When shame has you counting mistakes and errors, flaws and imperfections, instead start counting all the ways God loves you. Only one of those lists is infinite- His.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Lord,
Please remind me that confidence and self-contentment are found in your love and acceptance. Please silence the shame and critique that tuck themselves into the most vulnerable spaces of my heart and soul. Remind me that my inner critic is built from the lies of the enemy. Replace my negative thoughts with your word and your love. Cover me in your grace, tonight and always.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Was there a time today when you could have replaced your inner critic with God’s grace and His voice? How would that have changed your inner peace and calm for the remainder of the day?

2. Think of a time you tied your worth to your performance. Were you striving for approval from outsiders when you already have the ultimate approval of God? How can you tie your worth to him instead?

3. Picture yourself standing in front of a mirror. The mirror only reflects God’s view and perspective. What do you see? Can you see yourself through the eyes of compassion and grace? Can you see yourself in God’s beauty?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Chelsea Ohlemiller is an author and speaker passionate about raising awareness of grief’s impact on life and faith. She has an active and engaging social media presence and is well-known for her blog, Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities. Her first book, “Now That She’s Gone,” will be released in August. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three children, who are the driving force behind all that she does.