I was a church kid. My parents vowed to raise me in the ways of the Lord and they did not break that promise.

In my grandparents tiny little church, at the age of seven, I spoke in tongues for the first time. I was baptized around that age as well. My parents decided to switch churches when I was eight. I've been going there three times a week ever since.

In my entire life, I have never drank alcohol, abused drugs, partied, or had premarital sex. I wasn't a trouble maker. I never snuck out at night, or lied to my parents about where I was. I never stole anything or vandalized anyone's property.

I was a church kid who loved God and didn't compromise my values to fit in with others.

For almost 10 years, I believed I didn't have a testimony. I never battled addiction. I never ran from God. I didn't struggle with the desire to be accepted by the world. I felt that my story was inadequate.

I've always wanted to impact others. I wanted to inspire change in people's lives. But the enemy had convinced me that God couldn't use me. I thought I was belittling myself, but I was really belittling God. I had taken all focus off of Him, and put it all on me.

There is nothing in ourselves that can change a life. Jesus made it very clear on how to change the world. If Christ be lifted up, He will draw all men onto Him. For so long, I was putting the pressure on my shoulders. I was trusting in my abilities.

Instead of rejoicing in the victory God had placed in my life, I felt limited by my upbringing. To me, it didn't feel like a victory to always be the loner. It didn't feel like a blessing to have kids not want to sit by me on the bus because I was a "super Christian." It didn't feel good to have my brother get mad at me for "sucking up to God." I didn't feel like celebrating when friends didn't invite me to parties or to go on trips with them for spring break. I didn't feel like rejoicing when peers mocked me and called me "Saint Alea."

But I allowed the devil to use all of those hurt feelings against me. I allowed those feelings to hinder the Holy Spirit. We aren't supposed to go through life dependent on our feelings. We're supposed to depend on God.

Everything God does is good. He had a plan for my life from before I was even born. My life story wasn't meant to hinder me. It wasn't meant to bring me down. It was meant to bring God glory.

Whatever your testimony may be, it is a story of victory. Your life will always be a tale of triumph, because all battles were won when Christ went to the cross. He said it is finished, and he meant it. Satan was taking my victory after it had already been won. I was the one allowing him to do so.

You have the power to take back what is yours. It is your birth right to be more than a conqueror. Nothing can take that away from you, unless you give it the power to. No addiction, no heartache, no loss, no person, no power in Hell or on Earth can take away what the cross has won.