Not Competent in Myself
A prayer for shame, from 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Shame's favorite word is inadequate, and it repeats it until you agree. Paul cuts the argument short: competence was never supposed to come from you. This is a prayer for setting down the exhausting job of being enough on your own.
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NIV)
The prayer
Father, shame tells me I am inadequate and unworthy. But Your Word declares that my competence comes from You, not from myself. You have made me competent through Christ. Free me from the weight of shame and help me walk in the confidence of Your Spirit.
Make it yours: change any words that don’t fit, or stop at the one line that’s true today. Amen can wait until you mean it.