Pursuing Freedom

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia. Galatians 1:1,2 (New King James Version)

The Apostle Paul did not view his life and calling through what others thought of him or said about him. He did not attempt to align his thinking with theirs. As he began his letter to the Galatian believers, he set forth his credentials based solely on Who purposed his life. His identity, his security, his calling, his personhood were all based on Jesus Christ and God the Father. No other opinion was needed. Not his and certainly not the opinions of others. He stated this not only for his own sake but for the recipients of his letter as well. He knew the importance of knowing who he was in Christ and he knew that was something his readers needed to know as well. We are now the readers of his words and the knowledge of who we are in Christ and what He has called us to be is essential as well.

The book of Galatians is about freedom in Christ. Freedom from the law and all other forms of bondage. While I may not be one who attempts to earn salvation through the keeping of the law, I know what it is to live with attempts to live the Christian life in my own strengths and weaknesses. I may not be a slave to religious hierarchies, but I know what it is to live enslaved to my own thoughts and perceptions.

This morning, as I once again faced my tendencies to be controlled by a spirit of suspicion and distrust toward others, I asked God to help me see why this is still an area of bondage to me and how I can find true freedom from it. It was no mistake that He lead me to the book of Galatians. It is a book about freedom, deliverance, and liberty in Christ. What Paul wrote to the Galatians is meant for me as well and any who would venture through this book with me. I have often said that addiction is addiction therefore freedom is freedom. Hence, bondage is bondage and liberty is liberty. What will lead a person away from living out of the law will also lead a person away from living in captivity to their own way of thinking.

This is a shift for me. Usually the devotionals are written as a way of sharing the daily things God is teaching me and what He is walking me through. This week I have found it difficult to have anything to say along those lines. It was like the well had gone dry. I didn’t understand why until this morning. The lack of writing has been God’s way of showing me it is time for a change. It is time to walk through a book of the Bible and be open to what He shows me in its chapters. I want to find the keys that will eventually unlock the chains of my mind, enabling me to live, stand, and walk in the liberty Christ offers.

Father, I stand before You as one who desires freedom….especially when it comes to my way of thinking and viewing the people in my life. I thank You that freedom has been Your desire for me all along. You have a road map for me to follow and Your Spirit is my guide. Teach me. Change me. Renew me. Amen.

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypxv0QPEuLw&feature=PlayList&p=E11FE260DF29EBA5&index=0

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Not Seen But Still Here

And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:12 (Amplified Bible)

Several years ago, I wrote a devotional from the phrase, “And he saw him no more.” I listed individuals from the Bible who at one time lived under the eye and care of significant people in their life such as Joshua with Moses, Elisha with Elijah, David with Jonathan, Timothy with Paul, and so on. I noted when the time had come for each to be removed from their life and for them to continue on in the things they had learned from them. I pondered the things that might have gone through their mind when transition had taken place. The things I wrote were beneficial for me at a time when I was going through such a transition.

This morning I am aware of something I had missed at the time. In each of the examples I gave, the loss of the individual was through death. They were no longer here in the flesh. How the stories would have changed had they been. As a matter of fact, in Bible times, it was not unusual to never see or be in contact with another individual even if alive due to the lack of technology we have available to us. Cell phones, the internet, and transportation make staying connected more plausible today. I have numerous people from my past whom I may never see again in this life, but that does not mean we aren’t able to still communicate in one way or another. That is not the case with those who have died and are unreachable for me. Future communication awaits our reunion in Heaven.

So where does this leave me in relationship to individuals who at one time held significant places in my life but there is now no relationship? They still walk the earth. They still live and breathe. They are still here. If I desire to be in relationship with them, those truths can bring an ache. But if I acknowledge the fact that God has separate plans for us I can then direct my attention toward the plan He has for me. This I am doing with an awareness that the connection once held is gone. But I am also purposefully opening myself up to an area I at one time thought was over and done with. Does it mean the re-establishment of an ended relationship? Absolutely not. It simply means I am ready to allow my life to once again include some influence of a past influential person. It is an option my Bible ancestors never had and one I am taking. Is it the right thing to do at this time in my life? I hope so. Time will tell.

Father, if this is not of You, show me clearly, otherwise I embrace it afresh! Amen.

For Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

What to do With My Perceptions

But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me. 2 Kings 5:7 (New American Standard Bible)

The king of Israel voiced these words against the king of Syria upon receiving a letter requesting that he heal Naaman of leprosy. The letter was sent as a plea for help, not a declaration for war. Faced with an impossible task, the king of Israel feels his back is against the wall and he takes cover under a robe of suspicion and accusations. His perception has blinded him to the truth.

I know how he feels! For I too have misread another person’s intentions, actions, words, and expressions. I look back and am amazed at how quickly I have interpreted such things in a negative light toward myself and others. I assumed the worst, accepted the lie, and clothed myself in my own robe of suspicion and accusations. What I presumed to be an attack, a rejection, or abandonment became my reality and I pulled away in an attempt to not feel further hurt. It has caused me on numerous occasions to miss the blessings of relationships, the joy of living, and an internal world of peace. Until recently, I had no idea where this tendency came from. I knew it was there, I hated the effects, and I longed for freedom. God in His graciousness has begun to enlighten me on not only the root of my suspicions but the affective way to extinguish them.

First of all, He has helped me to see that into my relationships I carry wounds and negative messages about myself. I interpreted certain events in my life in ways that told me I was worthless, burdensome, and unlovable. Once the lies were embraced, I perceived that was what others thought of me as well. With each word, action, or event the old tapes would start to play in my head and I would embrace more lies. Although it was my own false perception, it was real to me. In most cases, this was always the scenario.

God’s solution? Admit I am not a mind reader. I am not God and therefore cannot possibly judge another person’s motives, intents, or thoughts. Know that the attacks are spiritual in nature. As with all attacks I must come against the spirit of accusation. I must renounce it and come against the effects it has on me. I must speak the truth about who I am in Christ instead of what I have come to believe about myself. Then instead of backing away from the person I must begin praying blessings and life over them. When these things take place the attack ends and I stand in a freedom and victory that has revolutionized the way I live my life. It works every time no matter the size of the incident. How I thank my heavenly Father for such insight into what has been such a predominant part of my life.

Father, You heard every negative word I voiced to myself when others never meant to hurt me. Forgive me for the judgments I made and the lies I embraced. I gladly trade the garments of suspicion and condemnation for robes of righteousness and freedom. Amen.

This is My Desire - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obi5ZGujiuU&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Seeing the Way of Escape

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)

The truth of this verse is evident….temptation is in our life and experienced by all. Praise God that truth is wrapped in the promise that He will faithfully provide a way of escape for us out of any temptation that comes upon us. We don’t have to wonder if there will be a way out, we can count on it!

Lately, one of God’s more prominent escape routes for me is to see the consequence ahead of time if I give in to the temptation. Much of what I am tempted with on a daily basis is not new to me. I have enough of a track record to rely upon to know what will happen if I give in to the enticement. Let me share a few personal examples.

If I partake of certain foods, I know they will lead to an eating binge. No doubt about it! Without fail (like alcohol to an alcoholic) control will be lost and all resolve to eat in a healthy way will be thrown out the window. If I read material from a ministry that at one time had a powerful hold on me, I will once again be in the throws of emotional dependency and recaptured by the very things from which I have sought freedom. If I give my mind over to negative thinking and wrong perceptions, I will spiral into a pit of darkness. If I allow others to be the center of my world instead of giving God that place, I will become disillusions, disappointed, and discouraged.

How do I know the results of each thing mentioned? I have fallen to those temptations too many times and the outcome has always been the same. The knowledge of that is my way of escape. If I say ‘no’ to the temptation I walk in victory and if I yield to it I face defeat. Last night I experienced victory in the area of not reading the ministry material but I admit defeat when it came to an eating binge. I rejoice in the one and accept today’s fresh start for the other.

Today will be a day which will entail temptations and yet it will also be a day filled with ways of escape. By God’s grace, I plan to take the escape routes each time.

Father, temptations and attacks come against my physical, spiritual, emotional, and social worlds. May the ways of escape be clearly discerned and consistently taken by me throughout this day. Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Seen in a Different Light

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

God’s “No” to Paul’s request for deliverance from a thorn in his flesh led to the writing of this profound section of Scripture. The boasting and strength came from the realization that God’s grace was sufficient for him. Paul had not reached the place where he no longer had weaknesses and failures. He had not reached the place where troubles and disappointments no longer marked his path. Rather, he reached the place of knowing that none of those things defined him or were the end of the story for him. His confidence was not in his own strength or attempts at a perfect record. His confidence was in God’s grace, power, and presence.

I have often failed to understand that maturity and growth in Christ does not mean perfection! Weaknesses, failures, temptations, and troubles are going to be a part of my walk with Christ until I leave this world. The growth and maturity will be evidenced not by the absence of those things but rather by the change in how I handle them. What is that change? It will be seen in the times I ask God for forgiveness, help, and direction. It will be seen each time I turn my attention toward Him rather than toward myself or my circumstances. It will be seen in the small, seemingly, insignificant moments of the day when there is a shift in my attitude and actions.

God is not looking for me to live in perfection….He knows I am not capable of that as long as I possess a sin nature and live in a fallen world. What He is looking for is a heart that desires to know Him, follow Him, cooperate with Him, seek Him, and love Him. How precious of Him to let me know that faltering steps do not cancel out the steps of faith. They simply draw my attention back toward the One who is willing to stand me up straight again and nudge me in the right direction. The One who still leans over and whispers, “This is the way, walk in it.” The One who still infuses His strength and Spirit into every fiber of my being on a daily basis. So when I am confronted by my difficulties, disillusionments, disappointments, and disobedience I can stand in confidence rather than condemnation, because I stand in Christ.

Father, You see me for who You created me to be. It is not that the failures and weaknesses are not there it is that Your presence and power outshine them all. Praise You! Amen.

His Strength is Perfect - Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_lld_vUCY

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Breaking Through the Enemies

And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. 2 Samuel 5:20 (Amplified Bible)

David had many enemies and many deliverances from those enemies. While I do not have enemies in human form, the Word is clear in letting me know that my enemies include the world, the flesh, and the devil. How reassuring and comforting it is to know that the same God Who broke through David’s enemies will break through mine as well. It took me years to realize that God is just as involved in my life as He was in the lives of Bible characters. Ready to move. Ready to act. Ready to deliver. I take delight in such a display of love, protection, and intervention.

Although there were times when God’s deliverance of His people came solely through His own hands, many were the times when it required the cooperation and action of His people. Notice in today’s verse it says that David came to Baal-perazim and smote them (his enemies) THEN he gave the credit and glory to God. He knew where the victory really lay. He knew Who had enabled him to fight and win. He knew Who fought beside him, for him, and through him. I want to follow his example and experience what he experienced in the way of victory over my own enemies of sorts.

I am finding that for every enemy of habit, weakness, and predisposition God has a plan of action. When I am aware of the plan it is imperative that I put that plan into motion. God will enable me to fight as I should. God has already equipped me with everything I need to come out victorious. His Word and His Spirit infuse me with the power I need to be an over-comer in any and all areas of my life.

I know what it is like to live in defeat and I know what it is like to live in triumph. Personally, I prefer triumph over defeat! In the past few days God has given me a battle plan for a certain area in my life and as I have implemented His battle plan the results have been astounding! As I head into a new day I am encouraged by what has happened already and I see this day as one of victory and success. To God be the glory and to me be the blessings of living under His rule and reign!

Father, when You invite us to taste and see that You are good, the results are never disappointing. What a feast! Amen.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMZ8D6nTKhg&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

To Reign Now

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (New International Version)

I remember reading Romans 8:1 several years ago, and for the first time realizing when it said, “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” that it was talking about the here and now (not just some far off time in Heaven). It was my first of many moments of seeing God in a different light and seeing my Christianity in a new way. Today’s verse recently gave me the same experience. In the past I have always seen the phrase, “reign in life” as simply our reign with Christ in the Millennium. Quite frankly, it meant very little to me in the present…until now.

When I read this verse yesterday morning God once again graciously pulled back the curtain from my eyes and helped me to see that as a believer I am equipped to reign now! To exercise influence and control now! To live life to the fullest, in a real, genuine, active, and vigorous way now! Yes, there is coming a day when we will reign with Christ in the Millennium but He wants me to know that there is plenty of reigning to do now in this life.

While there are some things I have no control over there are plenty of things I do have the responsibility and capability to rule and reign over and to do it each and every day. I am called to reign over my thoughts, my words, my actions, my reactions, my appetites, my flesh, my time, my finances, my interactions with others, and so on. There is absolutely no reason to live as a victim. In Christ we are more than conquerors. MORE!

For one who has spent too much time noticing and nurturing personal hurts, disappointments, and wounds, this is not only a freeing concept for me but an empowering one. Hope and promise have been birthed in me and out of that will come a way of life I am ready to taste and experience. How God delights at each of our “aha” moments!

Father, thank you for once again opening my eyes to Your truth. I smile as I consider all the ramifications that will come of it. Amen.

It's Time - Brian Doerksen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZVxjQOwCW0&NR=1

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16