May 5, 2026 Devo

I was reading a testimony today of a young man who went down a dark path. At the encouragement of some friends, he did things he knew he shouldn’t do. He confessed that his desire to please his friends and be counted as one of the “cool kids” was stronger than his desire to do what was right. That is, until afterward.
He discovered that the aftermath of sin is never satisfaction. It’s shame. He didn’t feel proud of himself. He felt worthless. He wasn’t happy to be “one of the gang.” He felt lonelier than ever. He was disgusted with himself and felt dirty, repulsive, and sickened. He said that he felt too embarrassed to even pray.
His story is a great picture of what the Enemy does with sin. He turns guilt into shame. Make no mistake, the young man was certainly guilty. What he did was a direct violation of God’s commands—commands he KNEW he was disobeying. But the Enemy took that guilt and turned it inward. He made the boy believe that what he did was a declaration of who he WAS, what he was WORTH, and how he was looked at by God. Thankfully, someone responded to the boy’s post about his shame with a great reminder of God’s love and grace. And the boy turned his eyes away from His sin and refocused them on God’s amazing offer of forgiveness.
Maybe the Enemy has been playing the shame game with you lately. Perhaps he’s reminded you of something you’ve done in your past that was a heartbreaking failure on your part. Maybe he’s brought up a lifestyle you’ve lived, or reminded you of sins you’ve committed, or shown you again the people you’ve hurt in the past. Or perhaps, like the young man, you’ve recently fallen. You’ve done what you know you shouldn’t have done or been on a path you know you shouldn’t be on. And today, maybe you, too, find yourself shackled in shame.
If any of that fits for you, read the words of the Lord spoken to us in our verse today in Isaiah. “I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Let this verse sink in, all the way to your soul. Jesus Christ has already paid the price for your forgiveness and freedom. If you’ve sinned, then confess and repent and accept the grace that God offers you to wash away your sin. If you’ve already confessed and repented and the Enemy is just playing mind games with you, then CLAIM the forgiveness that God has given you and DECLARE the freedom that you walk in today. When the Enemy tries to shackle you with shame, remember: God’s Grace is the key that sets you FREE! That’s God’s Word for you today.