I am not ashamed of the Gospel. // Romans 1:16

My fingers stopped dancing across the keyboard as I stared at the words on the screen. I love today’s verse from Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” For this devotion, I started writing about being a witness to the faith, but something wasn’t clicking. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to look at it from another angle. 

God was highlighting this verse, but today He wanted me to focus on my own heart and consider, do I sometimes feel ashamed and undeserving of the saving love of Christ? Yes, I am a faithful Catholic who loves Our Lord, but He wants more. 

So now I’m asking myself . . . Do I allow negative self-talk, fear, guilt, selfishness, or pride stop me from giving my heart completely to God? Are there hidden wounds stopping me from trusting in God and His goodness? Am I allowing Jesus to go deeper into my heart and heal me? If I’m unashamed of the Gospel, then I would believe that Jesus can heal my blindness, cure my woundedness, cast out the lies I’ve grown to believe, and create in me a new heart. 

Although Jesus has already healed so much in our lives and taught us many things, we’re never really done. Conversion is an ongoing journey and sometimes it’s easy to become complacent with (or in denial of) the areas that still need work. Today Jesus is beckoning us to go deeper. 

Where are you in your spiritual life? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area in which He wants to bring you further healing or into a more profound love and commitment. 

Lord, I stand before You with open arms. Open my eyes to see the areas in my life that You want to heal and bring greater freedom. Please give me the courage to look at myself honestly and the strength to trust in You completely. I love You. Amen.