Freedom…a word I took pretty lightly in my faith. I’ve always known Christ has set us free from our sins, but I never understood the true meaning of freedom. These past few years I was really frustrated with why I couldn’t let God fully take control over my life. After I shared my testimony with the team, a few of my teammates told me they feel like I still have chains holding me back. That I’m letting sin from my past really control me. That really struck a cord and I began praying that The Lord would break those chains, but I wasn’t sure how to step aside and let God break them. I didn’t know how much of a burden this sin from my past really was. I had ignored it so much that I thought it was gone, but in reality I never forgave myself nor did I fully surrender it to The Lord. I thought God would never forgive me for my past mistakes. I just kept praying that The Lord would allow me to forgive myself and to help break those chains that were growing tighter and tighter around my life.
How many times do we let things from our past dictate our future? The Lord tells us in Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” also in Isaiah 43:25 “I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” This paints a beautiful picture of what our Heavenly Father has done for us. He’s forgiven our sins and casts them as far as the east is from the west and he remembers them no more! Even in your darkest days, God was there. The worst possible sin you’ve committed, God was there. Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” even in that moment God had a plan. Whatever the situation, it would bring glory and honor to him.
After I read those verses I thought to myself I am free of sin. I do not have to let it remain in my life. It had no control over me anymore. As I was asking God to break those chains I felt such a sense of joy and peace come over me. A peace and joy like no other, feelings that only The Lord can bring. I am a totally different person from when I started this trip. 2 Corinthians
3:17 “Now The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is freedom.” The Holy Spirit dwells within me and I know now that grace has been poured out all over me and I’m free from all sins. Freedom is such a powerful word and shouldn’t be taken lightly in our walks with our Lord and Savior.
I don’t know what’s holding you back from growing closer with The Lord, maybe you are struggling with needing to forgive yourself for something. Maybe you feel like you are too far away to come back to Him which isn’t true. God is waiting for you ready to welcome you back with open arms. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. One of the hardest things is forgiving ourselves and satan loves that. If God can forgive and forget why can’t we? We have to grasp what He did for us and when we truly understand how He forgives it makes it so much easier. People are going to let you down everyday, all the time, but one thing I can promise you is that our Father will never let us down. God is right with us everyday all He wants is for us to turn to Him for comfort, instead of other things. It is hard to set those things aside but they don’t bring you joy and comfort the way God does. Temporary satisfaction is all that it brings. We all go through dry seasons and go through dark times but we aren’t called to stay in that place. Satan would love that but we do not live for him, we live for Christ. I’m challenging you start praying. Ask God what it is that’s holding you back and when He tells you, ask Him to break those chains and I guarantee it’s going to change your entire life and outlook on everything. You just have to know you’re no longer living for yourself, you are living for Christ. You have to let Him break down those walls and build you up into who He wants you to be. I’m challenging you to seek after Him. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Start to dig into the Word and I promise you He will reveal Himself to you in so many incredible ways that will blow your mind! Step aside and let The Lord break those chains and set you free.
