Bondage
Some weeks can be full of different emotions. That’s what my week has been like. There are many friends I know that are walking through the hard stuff. Our world can become a series of uncomfortable and hard situations that can consume us. At times it can even feel hard to breathe. I can remember times of my life that were just like this. Feeling so scared, not knowing what my next step should be. So dear one, when the uncomfortable and scary happens what do we do? I’m ashamed to say at times I played the part. All I could do was just make it to the next hour or day. Often pretending things were great, when I was really holding back tears. Can you relate? People would say “Hi, how are you?” I would give the typical answer, “Great”, because inside I thought they didn’t really want to know the answer to that. When I was alone, I would just cry out to the Lord, face on the floor, knowing God could take it. I would and still do cling to one of my favorite verses which is Exodus 14:14 that reads, “God will fight for you, we need only to be still.” Are you in the middle of something hard? As I have strengthened my walk with Christ, I have noticed my answers being more authentic. I have realized now that everyone is going or has gone through something. While our stories may be unique, often they are overlapping. Break free of the lie that you are alone and know that God is always near. Sisters, share your hard times with someone and watch how God can use it. More times than not it will help lift someone else up.
My husband was showing me some photos of our two boys when they were growing up. There are two photos in which my middle son was reaching for my older son through a fence trying to hold hands with him. In the first photo, my older son is pulling the chain link fence to reach his hand through. The second he has ahold of his brother’s hand smiling. As my husband and I were talking we were reminded how God will move any object to hold our hands. My oldest son was going to get to his brother regardless of if he cut his hand or had to jump over the fence, just as God will go to great lengths to get ahold of us. At times He allows us to go through the hard so that we are better prepared to take on something He will ask of us later.
To be able to see our purpose and hear God, we have to eliminate all that pulls us from His calling. Are there things or people in your life that are blocking your ability to hear? In Galatians 5:17-26, Paul the apostle warns us that our fleshly desires are contrary to what the Spirit calls us to. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To live freely with Christ is to give up our fleshly desires and live for Him. One of the ways we can live for Him is to practice in our everyday life these fruits. Some may say this is opposite of freeing. Friends, if you’re trying to save your life you will lose it to something. The joy and peace that comes with living in God’s will is unlike any other. The more we walk with God, the more I find my earthly desires begin to fall away. I see the intimate details of what I value are also changing and my soul has more peace.
Let’s take this week to look at the areas or things of our life that need to be eliminated or changed. Pray about these things and listen to our Father. What is God calling you to?
Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit. Lord, convict our hearts in areas that need to be surrendered to you. Help us to hear your voice and prepare us to go where you call. We want to live our best life and know that can only be done with you. In Jesus name, Amen.