Freedom

What does freedom mean? Do we have freedom? Do we live there? Can we call freedom our home? Our state-of-being? When we think of our relationship with God do we see our freedom or our shortcomings? Our past or our future? Do we really believe that by His blood we are set free?

I'm beginning to think we don't. Sure, maybe there are some of us that have had some kind of epiphany about our freedom in Christ, but do we live in it? When the excitement wears off and our mind starts to wander do we find ourselves in His freedom or do we see the bondage of who we once were? When we wake up in the morning do we believe that we are God's glory? His chosen? His redeemed? His beloved? His friend? How does this play out in our faith?

When we see ourselves through our bondages of our "past lives" we are putting God in a box. It is almost as if we are setting ourselves apart from Him... when we are in step, saved by grace, and walking with Jesus those lives are light-years behind us. I am not saying when we are doing our best to be perfect but when we have the Holy Spirit living in us and Jesus by our side in everything that we do, whether it be good or bad. Our sins are as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). I love this verse because there is no set standard in how far East is from West. It is as far as the end of eternity from where we stand. It is like a circle that keeps going and going. We can chase it but we will never find the end. Can we grasp what that means? I don't think so, but I pray God can reveal a little bit of what that means in this piece.

I know for me I am always held down by the labels people give me. I have been damaged so much by others. People who throw the past in my face and label me as the person I once was. People who call me names that which I should have no affiliation. I have been called "evil", "ungodly", "wicked", and "not right in the eyes of God" to name a few. I was told that I "did nothing for [my] mom while she was sick except use her". I have also been told that I "don't know who [I] am in Christ" ... and these things by people that I trusted were interested in and looking out for my well-being. People that I believed. I viewed these people as those God placed in my life as mentors. I can now see that these people are not mentors in my life, but shaping stones. People who have tested me, not necessarily by the hand of God; but by His guidance I am learning and being molded in how to handle these situations. How to rebuke the lies that the enemy would spread about me, even to the people I love. The Eldredges wrote in their book Captivating, "They were broken hearts, broken when they were young, and they fell captive to the Enemy. They were in fact pawns in his hands." I think this sums it up pretty well. It confirms, the things they speak are not truth. The bible tells us so much as to how God feels about His children and these lies people speak are none of them! He calls us the apple of His eye (Zech 2:8)... He rejoices and sings over us (Zeph 3:17). I am not these lies. I am free!

I will not live in the shackles and chains these people and the enemy try to place around my ankles, every time they speak such hurtful lies about me. All of these years I would believe the things that people spoke about me and I would add another weight to the chains around my feet. I would wake up in the morning and the lies would crowd my head and my feet would be heavy as I tried to swing them over the side of my bed. I didn't even want to get up because I dreaded the weight I would be dragging all day. The lies I would believe.

Jesus sees us in no such way. God sees us through the eyes of His son. That is as close to perfection as we can be on this earth.

Thanks to God I am learning that I cannot be the lies spoken about me or the sins I committed in the past because I am saved by Him. It is impossible for me to be these things as long as Jesus is my savior!

I think that all of us have some of these people in our lives. People we have loved and respected who have hurt us and damaged us. Be strong and take heart, there is no damage that is too much for Jesus to heal. Like the word says, by His stripes we are healed. We have the opportunity for a perfect communion with Jesus and through this we are healed! Shake off those lies, figure out what is holding you back. Could it be the lies of people or the enemy, the sins of our pasts, the feeling of inadequacy, there are so many things that can crowd our heads... we just need to let it go. We have no power to change the way people feel, we have no ability to change our past, but Jesus does! Let go of whatever is holding you captive from His freedom and be free! Do whatever it takes to walk in the freedom we have! Speak the truth aloud, quote verses, pray! Believe God! Keep your mind above that level of deceit. The mind is a battlefield... are we willing to fight?

...who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. - Titus 2:14
This verse defines the truth of who we have been made by the atonement of the One True King. Peace be with you my friends.

Woman of Faith

I wrote this a few days ago at Women of Faith...

Here I am at Women of Faith, as I sit and hear the voice of one of God's redeemed sing about His glory I can't help but realize how blessed I am to be here.

This past year and a half has been the hardest of my life. It has changed me from the inside out. I never knew I could experience so many different things in a short amount of time. God has done a miraculous breakthrough in my life this past week. Never have I felt so free. I can feel the muscles in my face begin to take shape again. Muscles that used to be strong from laughter and smiles, but grew weak over so much agony.

God has taught me and grown me so much. I know all of these trials have been for that purpose and I will use my knowledge and faith for the glory of Jesus and His kingdom. I know that my battle is not over but I will continue to run this race and, by faith, I will finish... and I will finish well.

♥

I am beautiful, perfect, and made complete because He lives in me. I am FREE! I am clean. I am blessed and pure. I have no chains, I have no shackles. My life is new. I am new.

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. -Psalm 18:32