A few days ago, I rediscovered a CD of praise music that I had not listened to in quite some time. One of the songs amid the collection is Tammy Trent’s version of At the Foot of the Cross. It’s a beautiful melody accompanied by piercing lyrics:
At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You receivedAnd You’ve won my heart
Yes You’ve won my heart
Now I canTrade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
I had listened to that song hundreds of times before, but on that day, the words ” … And wear forgiveness like a crown” sunk deep into my soul.
Sometimes I am more comfortable in wearing shame than I am wearing forgiveness. I often do this without realizing my error. Yet every time I wallow in guilt, curse my inadequacies and embrace defeat I am covering up the beauty of forgiveness that Christ won for me … for mankind.
When I chose to wear forgiveness like a crown instead of cloaking myself with my own failures and shortcomings, I’m reduced and Christ is exalted and my confidence in who I am in Him and through Him is restored.
I John 2: 12-14
I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Are there times when you forget to wear your forgiveness?
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Larissa says
Oh, all too often these days – mainly when I’m stressed about things going on, or frustrated with my own ability to be diligent and productive with my time which inevitably leaves me with things either overdue or too many things that need to be done all at once, right at the last minute … basically, when I have allowed myself to forget to rest in God’s presence, strength and grace. The more time I spend in His Word, and in prayer, the more energy and ‘go’ /drive I have to get things done before they NEED to be.
Thanks for the reminder today Angela!! Could do with one everyday!! xx
Laura says
Wow. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been messing up TONS lately and have been walking around feeling soooo guilty. I like how you said that when we wear forgiveness it’s letting us shrink and allowing God to be more. Thank you so much for this…I really needed it!!!!!
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect says
Ohhhh, such true words. I am much more comfortable wearing shame and guilt than grace and forgiveness. Thank you for prompting my heart with this post.
Robin says
God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Thank you for sharing your heart so God can work in mine.
Lesley says
I have that CD too!!! And love it…I’ve listened to this same song so many times. On days where I need to be comforted, encouraged or just to unwind from a crazy day. All the songs are encouraging and straight from God’s word. A friend shared the CD with me several years ago so I’m not sure how to find it…but it’s definitely one worth having. The words to this song resound with me….that our Lord gave His life for “MY” sin. And with His immense mercy provides a place for me to come to lay it all down at His feet receiving His forgiveness and great love. I’m undeserving but forever grateful. He is my all in all!! Thank you for this reminder today….I’m pulling out that CD when I get back in my car.
Linda Stoll says
yes … i have to wear it.
yes … i have to give it!
http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2012/07/write-it-off.html
Lisa says
All the time! I suspect that’s because we are human. But when we learn to forgive ourselves, life is so much more rewarding.
Beth Williams says
Constantly! I’m usually wallowing in self-pity and mad at myself for past choices that have turned out lousy!
I love to listen to the words of songs like this and truly think about what the writer is saying…and what God wants me to hear!
♥ athena says
Wow Angela….~so blessed by this today, seriously. I cannot even tell you how awesome it is that you chose to write this… *specifically *this*…this song was divinely brought to mind yesterday out of nowhere (as if there’s such a place, really), so, since I knew it was The Lord, I kept meditating on those exact lyrics… I had not even heard the song in forever but had His Peace at that moment… it was so beautiful to me… the fact that He can make beauty out of our ashes and that we can wear His forgiveness like a crown is such a humbling~amazing privilege… all we have to do trade them in… all we have to do is put it on… Oh, sisters…how I pray this over each of you, over myself today… I personally, spend far too much precious time wearing shame and insecurity… Lord, help us as women… as Your daughters Father, help each of us to trade our ashes for beauty and wear Your forgiveness today. ♥ Amen~
sheryl morrison says
Crown!!! I love crowns…and i would love to wear one just like the sweet angel in the picture above your precious words….Oh how they have helped me this evening…god bless you for sharing them..
Martha Jean Knight says
My adult daughter died. I keep crying….”they have taken away my daughter, and I don’t know where they have laid her….it has been 8 years, and I still cannot live in gratitude…as I did before she died. I don’t want to. I am stuck here, and I want to grieve the rest of my life. I want to be with her. That is all I want. If she is not here, everything else has died. Christmas died. All pleasure died. I cannot, will not start believing again. I do not want to…
Angela says
Dear Martha Jean –
I am deeply sorry for your loss and cannot fathom the pain that is ripping through your heart. Please know that you are loved. I am praying for you to feel comfort and joy once again.
Martha Jean Knight says
I forgot to say…my husband has alzheimer’s, and I am experiencing the long goodbye. I have no grandchildren….but thank goodness, a wonderful sister. God does not show me Himself. Joy is not there.
SarahJane says
Wow – I am battling a lot of shame right now. A friend was encouraging me yesterday to just lay it down and accept the Lord’s forgiveness. I wanted to cry and explain how it wasn’t that simple. But I see in what you have written that the part that is so hard isn’t the tangled mess of relationship and emotion – rather that I don’t feel comfortable wearing it. I would rather bear my shame than accept a free gift. Shame is exactly what makes it feel so impossible to accept a crown and live like a daughter of the King, yet it has been paid for. Thank you for your words.
Joy says
LOVE this. “Wear forgiveness like a crown.” After all, we are daughters of the King.
Rachael @ heldbyHishand says
I too often forget… especially this week. I have memory lapses regularly that last minutes… hours… days… and I need constant reminding that this is not my best life, or glorifying to the God who made me. I must put on that crown daily – however much or little I deserve to be wearing it, however ill it feels or fits; He has purposed it for me and desires with all His heart that I wear it and reflect Him.
Amen.
Joy says
I can so relate to this!
It is an everyday effort to let go of the shame. I am getting better at it the more I do it. And I have found that the more I walk through valleys with others, valleys that I have blazed, I am seeing forgiveness in a whole new way.