Do It Yourself

Awake, awake, clothe yourself in your strength….clothe yourself in your beautiful garments…..shake yourself from the dust, rise up…..loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter. Isaiah 52:1-2 (New American Standard Bible)

I am struck with the repetition of the word “yourself” in this passage. It has the slogan “just do it” written all over the place! The imperatives abound…awake, clothe yourself, shake yourself, loose yourself. Because I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me, I can actually do what these verses advocate.

I picture someone sitting in a dark cell, dressed in rags, covered with dust, and wearing chains around her neck. She is being held captive but freedom is available and actually within her grasp. God Himself pleads with her to get up and out of her own dungeon! As the truth hits her and she accepts the challenge she will walk in freedom and victory.

I have come to realize I have a choice. I am equipped with every thing I need to live the Christian life victoriously. But for decades I lived as a pauper among the riches God offered. Instead of loosing myself from chains, I waited for people to do it for me. I looked to others to cheer me up, encourage me, counsel me, and advise me. Never realizing I possessed those qualities myself in Christ. I find such freedom in Christ to do things for myself now.

Let me share just one way this works. It is easy to give in to negative thoughts. Be they thoughts of discouragement, loneliness, rejection, pity, etc… if allowed they can take me to places of despair. I look at discouragement as an actual person who seeks to tie me up and drag me off to a dungeon of despair. But I have learned I have a choice in the matter. I can choose to be taken or I can resist! I can come against him with Scripture and the truth. He’ll flee at my rebuke! I must rebuke, renounce, and reject all attempts of this enemy to get any entrance into my mind and soul.

The simple truth is this…if I don’t take my thoughts captive they will hold ME captive. And they are ruthless captors. May I see them as defeated foes each time they come to imprison me.

Father, You long to show me the unnecessary captivities I allow. Thank you for reminding me I not only have a choice but I possess the power to fight my would-be captors. I choose freedom! Amen.