FROM BONDAGE TO FREEDOM
“Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free- not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.” Galatians 5:1
I want to encourage you like Paul, to cherish the truth that you are free! Christ paid for your freedom. The enemy of our soul finds ways to enslave us. (even the food industry, on purpose, puts certain ingredients and chemicals in our foods to make sure we become addicted to them.)
STOP & PAUSE the next time you reach for something you’ve been in bondage to. Think about what is going on in your heart and mind and ask the Lord to help you.
He’s right there with you anyway.
Maybe you’re looking at things you shouldn’t be looking at, maybe you’re reaching for foods that don’t serve you in a healthy way or drinking alcohol to numb the pain and stress of the day.
The Lord is right there with you and He’s not shaming you. He’s also been tempted and understands your struggles and He’s wanting you to walk in the freedom that He hs provided. He IS your answer. No more captivity. No more shame. No more guilt. No go ahead a breathe a sign of relief.
Beloved, you don’t have to clean up or be perfect to turn to Him. Come just as you are, broken and needy. He loves to mend the broken and He desires to meet all your needs.
Even though I may not have many of the bondages I’ve had in the past, and I’ve had plenty, there’s always something I’m working on in this journey of life. One of the things I’m learning to let go of is the bondage of busyness.
It’s popular to be busy. I’m okay with NOT being popular in the world’s eyes.
Fear of man and the expectations of others can entrap you. There will always be people that need help, things that need to be done, TV shows to watch, places and events beckoning us. Prioritize. Those things always need to take a back seat to sitting at the feet of Jesus.
I’ve been striving much of my life, always doing “something”, trying to please others or making sure I stayed so busy that the pains in life didn’t surface. I wanted them to stay pushed down so I wouldn’t have to deal with them. I’ve found it difficult to pull aside and rest whether it was resting my body, my mind, or just resting in Jesus. I’m still a work in progress and that’s ok.
I’m learning that when I do rest in Him, this frees me to do what He is asking me to do. I may disappoint people, like Martha who was disappointed and judging Mary (see Luke 10) but my goal is not to please others, it’s to please God first and foremost.
One of the many scriptures I love is Matthew 11:28-30. Let me personalize it for you. (I love to make scripture personal.) Put your name in the blanks. Read this as though Jesus was speaking directly to you with tons of love in His heart…
“Are you weary ___________? (pause and think about this - then answer Him. No hurry.)
“____________, are you carrying a heavy burden?” (Beloved, what has been weighing on you?)
If the answers are YES and YES, then read on…
”________, come to me.” (if you come to Him, He promises this…)
“I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine.
Learn my ways.” (we do this by pausing everything else and making time for Him).
“and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please.” (Now this is good news!)
“You’ll find refreshment and rest in Me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
See, He doesn’t require for us to be busy, busy, busy with much of the things we are doing. Our relationship with Him should be the priority.
I hope that speaks love and rest to your weary heart, to your busy schedule, to the bondages that have entrapped you.
We are meant for so much more than the way we are living.
Stop your striving my friend. Stop making daily decisions to please others. Be free, in Him. There IS a better way. Surrender your heavy burdens, worries, fears, habits, to the One who loves you and came to set you free. He’s right there with you, even now beckoning you to walk in this freedom.
I would love to hear your comments if you’ve been able to walk out of bondages and into areas of freedom. Praying you experience all that Jesus has provided for you.
Healthy hugs and blessings,
Bejé
