My sweet 90-year-old Grandma has me addicted to the show, Naked and Afraid! Have you ever seen it?
Individuals interested in appearing on this reality show go through a rigorous interview process where their PSR (primitive survival rating) is determined. On a scale of 1 to 10, it is the lucky individual who scores a 3.2 to be paired with a survival ninja scoring at 9.1.
Nonetheless, one man and one woman are challenged to survive for 21 days in a remote location, surrounded by wild animals and left without the basic elements of life-food, water, and lodging. If you ask me, I would say that clothing should be included in the list of basic elements, but…hey, it is a reality TV show. What can you do?
After being individually transported in a rugged jeep, the participants strip down, leaving their clothing with the driver, and are given a map to a common point where they will meet each other. Can you imagine the first-time meeting someone and being naked? I cannot imagine how difficult it is to feign off the awkwardness that would be unavoidable. I would want to maintain eye contact at all cost! The individuals are aware of their nakedness. They understand that they are unprotected from the elements, the bugs, dehydration, starvation, and besides that, they are completely exposed before their partner (and let us not forget the camera crew, producer, etc.). A whole lot of people are watching—how do you wrap your mind around that being a good thing to do?
This is a television show—a reality show with a cast of characters working for higher PSRs and the reputation of being able to thrive, even when left naked and afraid.
There is a future show involving nakedness that will also be a reality.
The cast of characters are you and me.
We are not striving for a higher PSR or making money for the entertainment industry; in fact, we are not making money at all, and our only guarantee of a higher survival rating is within the hands of another.
“There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing that we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything is exposed and defenseless before his eyes, to whom we must render an account.” Hebrews 4:13 TPT
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 NKJV
You guys, I mess up so often. Every day, I come before God with trepidation because my imperfections get in the way of fully trusting in Him, waiting for Him, and expecting from Him. I do not always use self-control. Social media sometimes sucks us right in, doesn’t it? I speak before I think. The words I say hurt others, damage relationships, and so often are not really what I mean to say. There is a reason why God says to think before we speak. I disobey by trusting my own ideas, instead of God’s ideas on how to solve problems. Being a fix-it person, it is so hard for me to wait on His timing for a promise to be fulfilled. My doubts ricochet amid my thoughts. When I hurt, I am quick to blame God before receiving comfort from Him. I don't know about you, but I bet you feel the same way. There are so many ways that we need God’s mercy active in our lives.
I am so thankful for the fear that draws me to His presence. The awareness that one day I will stand before Him causes my heart to splinter with repentance when I walk in ways that are not reflective of His sovereignty.
“Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.” I John 4:18 TPT
Regardless of entering his presence with shame, I always leave His presence with that overwhelming sense of love that washes my heart, restores my mind, and destroys fear.
With God, there is no cover up. There is no pretending that it did not happen. The delete button is broken, so we must deal with the reality as it is and ask for His forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love to overshadow our shortcomings.
Today, I ask you, as I daily ask myself,….what do you need to take care of in your life that would cause you to be naked and afraid before God? God says that He is love and that perfect love casts out fear.
The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one. Psalm 34:18 TPT
There is a way that fear of His presence can be replaced by security in His presence. Continuously working out who He wants us to be, trusting Him when things seem lost, holding on to his promise of restoration, living for an audience of One….doing things God’s way will allow us to come before Him, fully exposed, and not afraid at all on the day we see Him face to face in eternity.
1How happy and fulfilled are those whose rebellion has been forgiven, those whose sins are covered by blood.
2 How blessed and relieved are those who have confessed their corruption to God! For he wipes their slates clean and removes hypocrisy from their hearts.
3 Before I confessed my sins, I kept it all inside; my dishonesty devastated my inner life, causing my life to be filled with frustration, irrepressible anguish, and misery.
4 The pain never let up, for your hand of conviction was heavy on my heart. My strength was sapped, my inner life dried up like a spiritual drought within my soul.
5 Then I finally admitted to you all my sins, refusing to hide them any longer. I said, “My life-giving God, I will openly acknowledge my evil actions.” And you forgave me! All at once the guilt of my sin washed away and all my pain disappeared!
6 This is what I’ve learned through it all: All believers should confess their sins to God; do it every time God has uncovered you in the time of exposing. For if you do this, when sudden storms of life overwhelm, you’ll be kept safe. Psalm 32:1-6 TPT
Take a minute to pause in his presence. Respond to the Holy Spirit. Psalm 51 can guide your prayer.
Psalm 51 Pardon and Purity
1–2 God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness!
I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt.
Because your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin.
Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways, and erase this deep stain on my conscience.
3–4 For I’m so ashamed. I feel such pain and anguish within me.
I can’t get away from the sting of my sin against you, Lord!
Everything I did, I did right in front of you, for you saw it all.
Against you, and you above all, have I sinned.
Everything you say to me is infallibly true and your judgment conquers me.
5 Lord, I have been a sinner from birth, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 I know that you delight to set your truth deep in my spirit.
So, come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom.
7 Purify my conscience! Make this leper clean again!
Wash me in your love until I am pure in heart.
8 Satisfy me in your sweetness, and my song of joy will return.
The places within me you have crushed will rejoice in your healing touch.
9 Hide my sins from your face; erase all my guilt by your saving grace.
10 Create a new, clean heart within me.
Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.
11 May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!
12 Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me.
Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say.
13 Then I can show to other guilty ones how loving and merciful you are.
They will find their way back home to you, knowing that you will forgive them.
14 O God, my saving God, deliver me fully from every sin,
even the sin that brought bloodguilt.
Then my heart will once again be thrilled to sing the passionate songs of joy and deliverance!
15 Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, and I will overcome with my joyous praise!
16 For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance
or the sacrifices I might offer to you.
17 The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you.
You will not despise my tenderness as I humbly bow down at your feet.
19 And when we are fully restored, you will rejoice and take delight
in every offering of our lives as we bring our sacrifices of righteousness before you in love!
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