What does freedom mean? Well, to quote from Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary, it defines it as: A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. So exemption from slavery or confinement. Not being controlled by another. Liberty! In a spiritual sense, it's breaking free of the confinement that Satan desires to trap us in. It's finding Truth!!! And in finding Truth we can expose the lies that so many believe. The lies hold many captive, and keep people drudging along with Satan holding a grip on the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of a person. When we are held in captivity it is not something we desire, but many times we fail to escape because the escape is painful, it's hard, and we are scared to fail and thus be placed back into bondage with more cruelty shown to us. But God has told us He will be with us, and though this does not keep us from experiencing pain, it does tell us that we will make it if we persevere.
Friends, this is a battle, a battle for the hearts of God's most beloved creation. It's a war and it is time to suit up with the armor of God. Our hearts should be breaking for the captives! In the past three months I have experienced such freedom from the lies that Satan had been holding me down with and I have never been filled with more joy!!! With true joy!! There is a level of urgency here. The longer people live in the lies the harder it is to break free. It's time to seek Truth and make known the lies, setting the captives free, so that those we Love can experience the same freedom that we have. Let's make Satan nervous. It's time to break free the chains!!!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
What's to come?
Well, yet another year down, and another year of adventure. It truly has been a roller coaster year for me. I have been all over the board emotionally dealing with my degree, with my friends, and with my relationship with God. I went from being probably the furthest point I have ever been from God, to becoming the closest that I have ever been to God. In the past year I have learned so much from my mistakes and experiences. The Focus Leadership Institute has helped me learn from my experiences and has helped me see the uniqueness that God made me with. God has gifted me with some incredible strengths and has given me an incredible family and incredible friends who have been there for me through it all. I'm truly blessed to be where I'm at. In the past three months I have learned how to pursue God. I have learned the importance of recognizing my strengths and using those to serve God. I have continued to learn humility. I have seen how God really can use every experience to reveal something about himself.
God loves us. He hates to see us hurt and hates to see us ache. When we are hurting and don't understand the future, God is there with us, weeping. He wishes we could trust Him, because He knows our potential and our future and He hates to see us hurting because we fail to Trust. God does not make us fall into sin. As James says, "Nor does God tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when by his own evil desires he is dragged away and enticed." It's by our own evil desires that we fall from the Truth. But still God is there, wrapping His arms around us, whispering in our ears, "I love you!"
So often I pushed God away when He tries to come near. I refuse to allow anyone to come near to me. That selfish ambition creeps it's way in saying, "It's all about you!" Satan masquerades as an angel of light, tempting us with things that our human nature desires. And it is hard to resist. But James states, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you." God is calling us into a Holy communion with Him. He desires us and wants us to fellowship with Him. Search God, come near to Him. As it says in the book of James, "If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault. But when he ask, he must believe and not doubt." So seek out God in this new year, ask God for wisdom, but when you ask, believe what He tells you, even if it is hard. It's time to trust the Truth of God and to run into His open arms and hear his whisper, "I love you!"
God loves us. He hates to see us hurt and hates to see us ache. When we are hurting and don't understand the future, God is there with us, weeping. He wishes we could trust Him, because He knows our potential and our future and He hates to see us hurting because we fail to Trust. God does not make us fall into sin. As James says, "Nor does God tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when by his own evil desires he is dragged away and enticed." It's by our own evil desires that we fall from the Truth. But still God is there, wrapping His arms around us, whispering in our ears, "I love you!"
So often I pushed God away when He tries to come near. I refuse to allow anyone to come near to me. That selfish ambition creeps it's way in saying, "It's all about you!" Satan masquerades as an angel of light, tempting us with things that our human nature desires. And it is hard to resist. But James states, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you." God is calling us into a Holy communion with Him. He desires us and wants us to fellowship with Him. Search God, come near to Him. As it says in the book of James, "If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault. But when he ask, he must believe and not doubt." So seek out God in this new year, ask God for wisdom, but when you ask, believe what He tells you, even if it is hard. It's time to trust the Truth of God and to run into His open arms and hear his whisper, "I love you!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)