Affirmation of Freedom
My dad was a state councilman in our denomination and a pastor. My mother was the choir director, pianist and/or organist, a Sunday school teacher and the director of the Ladies Willing Worker Band. It made no sense that from an early age I would question the rules and regulations of the church, but I did. In high school all the “Thou shall not’s” began to feel like shackles and it would be many years before I realized that my quiet rebellion was not against God, but against the bondage of man-made doctrines. I was taught if the church said it, God said it! Man, I was in a pickle! Whom the Son has set free is free indeed? Really? I had been born-again, but I did not sense a freedom that allowed me to make choices…I wasn’t free to question anything. The iron-clad rules got tighter, but my mind did not shut off…I wanted understanding! I was told that I didn’t need to have understanding…all I needed to do was obey! Then a day came when I met the Truth that makes me free, and I read that understanding would keep me and I fell in love with Truth, and wanted to walk in His ways. …if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do (James 1:25). A light was turned on–I understood and could obey because I loved Truth that made me free…the choice was mine! I was free to obey and my world changed from bondage to freedom! Whom the Son has set free is free indeed! (John 8:36)
PRAYER:
Father, I am free to shout it from the rooftops: I am Free!! I thank You for sending Jesus and in Him I am free to make the choice to walk in Your Love that passes all understanding; when I step out of Love, You forgive me and my freedom continues! I am filled with gratitude for Your divine help as I enlarge the place of my tent and strengthen my stakes. In You I have found hope for despair. In You I’m experiencing stability! In You there is prosperity for poverty. In You there is health and healing for sickness. In You there is peace for conflict, whether it is in a relationship, in my home, or in my land. In You, Lord Jesus, is well-being for every area of life! Hallelujah! I am free! Thank You Holy Spirit for divinely orchestrating every aspect of my life! Jesus is Lord over my spirit, soul and body, and over my relationships. Amen