THE SOUND of FREEDOM: Released From the Shackles of ShameSample

SHATTERING SHAME

Along life's journey, all the hurt, pain, betrayal, and rejection weigh us down… masking our TRUE IDENTITY. It's just an illusion. We are not what happened to us, and we are not what we did. We are who God called us; royal kings and queens crowned with glory and honor. As a pregnant teenager, the inner me was my enemy. The negative voices in my head were my own. My view of myself was nowhere close to royal. I'm so glad we serve a God who sees beyond our faults. It wasn't until I surrendered my life to God that my self-image shifted.

When looking in the mirror, we do not see royalty staring back at us. Our human tendency focuses on spots or blemishes. Truth is... it's not about what we see, nor is it about how we feel. What God called us is the only thing that matters. We are ROYALTY; that's what He calls us, and His mind has not changed.

Find comfort and strength in seeking God's unchanging truth when struggling with guilt and shame from past mistakes. With confidence, proclaiming His promises can be a powerful tool in the fight against the deceitful lies of the adversary. The Bible says when the devil lies... he speaks his native language. Therefore, when we proclaim God's promises over our lives, we're using our weapon of mass destruction against shame and its deception.

Another weapon (that silences the enemy) is praise. Therefore, we must declare what God says and praise Him for everything attached to our true identity in Him. Regardless of what's seen, praise Him for what you believe. Praise Him with a heart of expectation... believing to receive every promise. The scripture says that God lives in our praise, which means if He lives there, we are safe... we have provision... and we are free.

We are not defined by our mishaps or misfortunes. It is God's love that defines and refines us. His love is the formula for shame-shattering.