Devotional
We all carry stories - experiences that have shaped us, wounds that have marked us, and narratives that influence how we see ourselves and the world around us. Some of these stories are beautiful and life-giving. Others are painful and destructive. The dangerous ones are those that become so dominant they overshadow every other aspect of our identity and experience. Perhaps it's a story of rejection that makes you believe you're unlovable. Maybe it's a failure that convinces you you'll never succeed. Or it could be a betrayal that has you viewing everyone with suspicion. These dominant stories have the power to become your primary lens for interpreting life, limiting your ability to receive God's love and experience His goodness. While it's important to acknowledge and process our painful experiences, we can't allow ourselves to become prisoners to these narratives. Simply venting and retelling our stories isn't enough for healing - we can actually get stuck in cycles of rumination that reinforce the very patterns we need to break. True freedom comes when we allow God to rewrite our story, helping us see ourselves through His eyes rather than through the lens of our wounds.

Bible Verse
'Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.' - Psalm 139:23


Reflection Question
What story from your past might be dominating your present perspective, and how could God want to rewrite that narrative?


Quote
"Certain stories have the ability to dominate all the other stories of your life. They have the ability to become your dominant identity, your dominant value system, the lens through which you look through to experience the rest of your life."

Prayer
Father, help me identify the stories that have been holding me captive. Give me courage to let You rewrite my narrative with Your truth and love.

*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots