My Freedom is in God

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1


And yet we do. We submit to a yoke of slavery of some sort, over and over and over again. Many do not yet know Christ… and so they submit to these yokes of slavery unaware of what freedom is available to them in a Christ-filled life.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16


What a gift, that by His wounds, we are found new, we are healed, we are forgiven, and we are made free.

And yet many of us who profess our faith, who strive to fight the good fight and live a Christ-filled life, die daily to the temptations this world has to offer. Satan has made his place look pretty good. It’s enticing. It feels good. Everyone else is doing it, so why strive to be different?  Why not fall into the worldly handouts rather than focus on what is eternal and divine. So we buy into it. That devil loves to make great promises. The result? Insecurity. Doubt. Failure. Brokenness. Unworthiness. Despair. And we yoke ourselves to it. It becomes what we feel and who we are, and before we know it, we don’t even recognize ourselves.  What we thought were treasures were simply earthly values.

I am currently reading Beth Moore’s new book, So Long Insecurity and though I was a little skeptical it would be a lame “self-help” type book, in many ways, it has changed my life recently. It has certainly changed my year. It has been eye-opening for me to see myself for the insecure person that I truly am, yoking myself to anything that will help me to feel significant, important, and worthy,in the world’s view. As I live a life professing to be in Him, my thoughts have yoked on to things that are not of Him, that are not important to Him, and that do not breed strength and dignity.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity.” Proverbs 31:25

I am? Really? Oh…. Because if one were to see my “thought closet”, they would see that I am actually clothed in defeat, sorrow, frustration, pride, and well… pride. So whose clothes am I wearing?! Who am I choosing to believe? Beth writes, “All insecurity is a cover-up for unbelief.” I am immediately reminded of the father in Mark 9 who exclaimed to Jesus, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”

And so I have pondered this Christ-given freedom a lot this week. I am free. I choose to submit to yokes of slavery and He offers me something so much better…

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 29-30

It sounds so easy, and yet we who are trying to live in this world and not of this world know better. It is hard. It is a daily struggle to fight the good fight and live for Him. But He offers us so much… His Word. I have found through my study of the Word this year that it is living, and He speaks to us through it, encouraging us and pruning us to be more Christ-like each day. He doesn’t leave us. He walks the road with us, nurturing us and growing us in Him.

I had a moment with Rush this week, where I was trying to convince him to ride his bike. It’s a small bike, with training wheels, so he really has nothing to be scared of, and yet he is petrified of it. I finally convinced him to get on, after promising many times I would not let go. I convinced him to let me walk him around the driveway twice, and I would not let go. As we walked, God spoke to me so clearly… “I will not let go…” I am free. And He is not going to let go.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

I also found an old favorite when I was cleaning out the car this week… a song by Jami Smith that speaks so much to the freedom that I know I have, but fail to live.

Waterfall
i need a hand to hold
one that won't pull away from me
and i need a smile
one that won't turn down on me
cause i need a reason
to put my feet on the floor
and i just want security, given for all eternity

you said you'd stay, one too many promises
that you made in vain
no offense but there is only one
there is only one, only one to depend upon

cause His love is forever
it's unlike anything that we know
how high, how low, how wide
how deep, how rich, how true, how strong
so take me where the water falls
down on me and washes me
take me where the water falls
down on me, and lead me to where i'm free

my freedom is in God my freedom is in God

Today I read Paul’s words in 2 Timothy to Timothy towards the end of Paul's mission:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8.

Do you think Paul was free?

She is clothed with strength and dignity.

YES.  I am. 
Praise you, Lord. Amen.