Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1

What do you think of when confronted with the word freedom? Do you thank God that you live in a free country: free to vote, to worship, to marry whomever you choose, to live where you want to live and work at your choice of job?  Yes we have many freedoms not afforded to people in other countries.

As I was reminded of this verse today I thought of  people that we come across all the time who are not really free.  Even though they know Jesus Christ, our freedom-giver, they are still bound in many ways.  The sad thing is that some of them even like their captivity.  It's their comfortable place, and to move out of their captivity poses a threat.  They don't know how they will handle it so they are not willing to take the risk.  Yes, they talk about it, they plan for it but they never quite do it. That's because Satan, the deceiver has told them that freedom will be difficult, short-lived, not attainable and any number of other lies with which he keeps them bound.

So what are some of those bondages? At the risk of making myself unpopular I need to be honest and, at the same time look at my own life to see if there are areas where I am not free.  I'm sure there are.  The bondage of emotional baggage is often at the root of things like wanting to control others, hoarding, obsessive compulsive disorders, eating disorders, chronic illness and weakness.  Emotional baggage results from many things. Abuse, (verbal, sexual or physical), trauma, unresolved grief, unresolved anger, bullying, unfair punishment, unforgiveness...... the list is endless but the torment doesn't have to be. Jesus came to set the captives free and that means any kind of captive.

A captive is one who is locked in. We can be locked into a mindset that is often rooted in believing a lie.  Somewhere deep in our psyche a lie has found its home in us, maybe even when we were a child, through the way we have been treated.  These lies give Satan an open door to build a structure in our thinking that can affect the way we do life forever. He builds a prison and keeps us locked into the lie. We wonder why we can't change our bad habits, attitudes, insecurities.  It's because we are a prisoner.  There is a lie we have believed that we need to uncover, reject and replace with God's truth.  Only then, when we begin to believe the truth can we make the journey into continuing and growing freedom that Christ died for us to receive.

Are you brave enough today to take an honest look inwards and ask Jesus to show you if there is any area of captivity in your life that is stopping you from walking in full freedom?  If so, spend time in His presence, ask him if there is anyone you need to forgive in order to gain your freedom.  It may be even be yourself.

Lord Jesus,  would you shine your light into my heart.  Show me any lie I have believed about myself or others.  Give me a revelation of your truth to replace the lie and help me walk in the freedom that you died for me to walk in.  Amen