I Will Not Be Silent

Love is coming alive, and it's pushing out the fear 

Love is coming alive

Love is coming alive

Love is coming alive, and it's letting my voice out of the cage of fear: 

I won't be silent, I won't be silent, I won't be silent 

I will not be silent 

Love is the key that's opening up the cage inside of me 

And my voice is coming alive, my voice is coming alive

I will not be silent anymore 

I will not be bound by fear and worry and discouragement 

I'm coming out of my cage 

And my voice is exploding with praise! 

My voice is coming alive! 

I will not be silent, I will not be silent

Let the voice of a generation be awakened 

Let the voice of a generation be awakened:

We will not be silent anymore

These are some of the lyrics from this very prophetic song "The Voice of A Generation" by Melissa (and Jonathan David) Helser. I was listening to it this morning and wow, this is straight from the heart of God. Take a listen to it. I guarantee it will stir you up! This is what's resonating in my spirit right now: 

I feel like God is calling me, as well as a generation, to not be silent anymore. 

For me, it is quite literal: for years I have been silenced. Well, I let myself be silenced by believing the many lies about myself. This manifested in being that wallflower girl - you know, the one that melts into the shadows, not wanting any attention drawn to herself, doused in insecurity. 

I loved to sing, but if anyone heard me, that was the end of it. A hurtful experience with a voice teacher sealed the deal and made me never want to sing again. I couldn't fit into her mold of an operatic soprano. Not even close! 

For years I was convinced that there was something wrong with my "different," lower alto voice.

Why couldn't I just sound like everyone else? 

Thankfully, my God is so gracious and faithful. He doesn't make mistakes! 

It's been a number of years on this journey of freedom of finding my voice, and I'm sure it will be a few more. Getting free is not easy and usually doesn't happen with a snap of the fingers.
It is a battle to take those lies captive, declare the truth, and step out in faith, doing it even when you may be scared and trembling.
Sure, I'm still not the most outspoken girl in the crowd, but I am not afraid to stand out anymore. I am not afraid to sing out anymore!

I'm finding my voice; it's coming alive because Love Himself has come and unlocked the cage inside of me. 

The enemy fought hard to silence me for many years; I won't let him do it again. And I'll reclaim those lost years - the Lord is so faithful to redeem and heal those past hurts and memories. 

I will not let fear, worry or discouragement hold me back anymore!

He has given me songs to sing that no one else can sing.

Just as He made me unique and unlike any other on the planet, He made my voice unique. I can sing songs that touch the heart of God in a certain way that none other can. My love, expressed through my songs, moves Him in a way like no other.
Why, then, would I hold back? How can I? I have a song to sing!
I'm learning to love the uniqueness of my voice, because that's the way that He made it. He took the time to craft my voice and vocal chords when I was in my mother's womb. It was not a mistake. God doesn't make mistakes!

I encourage you to go on this freedom journey for yourself. 

Where in your life have you allowed the enemy to silence you? What does your voice sound like?

I pray that you find your voice. 

It doesn't have to be a singing voice; it looks different for everyone. It could be the words you craft in your journal, the art you make, the instrumental melodies you create, the words you speak out, the prayers you pray... whatever! 

We've let hurtful, untrue words and actions shape us and determine our futures for too long. 

We've been bound by fear for too long. 

We've been silenced for much too long.

It's time for a generation to rise up and find its voice: we will not be silent anymore.