In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free. Ps 118:5
Sharing personal challenges in a public forum is far from a favorite activity. It’s more than an ordeal to choose the right words to accurately describe an ongoing battle, especially one riddled with despairing feelings. The competition between the threat of being too vulnerable, and the benefit of being relieved clouds the matter. After all that, how can I rally to get back up and break free, and if fitting, bring you with me? Hang in there, please – here goes…
I turned 77 years old a few months ago. I bring that up because, in general, though the world around me is in a constant and threatening flux, I can be guilty of being set in my ways. A new knee and hip, and other body parts that negatively speak up, play a contributing role. Challenging relationships and the fast-paced erosion of traditional values add to the mix. If left unguarded, the dire drudge of local and world news bums me out. Throw in some nasty weather, rising grocery and gas prices, costly home and auto repairs, annoying telemarketers and shifty politicians, and it adds up to a formula for doom and gloom. In summary, that’s the “down and dirty” of my confession, and why I’ve been feeling almost trapped.
Now for the “getting up and breaking free” part. On our own, we can do nothing but be a victim. Appealing to the Lord and His Word, however, is where victory comes. Though we can never capture all of God’s protective and recovering grace, the solution is the guidance and resistance God has already given us to stay strong in the midst of whatever devilish storms or mishaps come our way. May I share what I believe is His general guidance for you and me for such a time as this. It comes in a four-part harmony.
1. When we turn the light on the gift of life, we see beyond this flawed temporal one. We’re blessed to see the divine hope of an everlasting life as well. That focus makes us want to jump for joy and put mere happy or sad in its unelected place.
2. There’s nothing like a divine appointment or an opportunity to share with someone else the hope of God’s eternal glory. It’s a supernatural high with only positive side-effects.
3. How about God choosing us? A personal relationship with the Master and Creator. To be called as a son or daughter of the Living God Father is almost too wonderful to fathom. Being part of His family with other followers of Christ is the ultimate privilege.
4. There’s nothing more maturing and assuring than to know the Holy Spirit is guiding, guarding, and governing our actions and reminding us of our being God’s temple; knowing we’re not our own and one day we will be judged. God’s boundary regarding all behavior is what matters most.
So family and friends, wherever you are in your walk, especially if you sense a negative gravity playing havoc in your midst, please feast on the encouragement in this message, and let’s celebrate getting up and breaking free together!
1 Cor 16:13-14; Phil 4:13; 1 Cor Romans 8:2; 1 Cor 6:12; John 3:16; John 15:16; Jame 4:7; Rom 5:1-5
2 users commented in " Getting Up And Breaking Free "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackBreaking free is just another sell-out of responsibility. God gave us qualities in His image hoping we would make correct decision. Instead we take his beautiful earth for granted, an the amazing computer called the brain which we only use less then half it’s capability. We expect Him to break us free because we are failures with the gifts He endowed us.Look at the history of the human race since the garden of Eden. Has He stepped in to stop wars and the killing of each other by the millions, the greed we see today, no, because he provided the tools and we proved not worthy. So now we ask, break us free, we haven’t got what it takes.We have failed Him!!
If we get beyond God being a hopeful concept, or dynamic religious figure, then we’re available to His invitation to be His love child, not just His creation. God is love and He never fails. He’s beyond time, space, and matter. He’s all powerful, unchanging, all knowing, ever present, and first referred to by Jesus as Our Father. With that comes His mercy and grace and all His other perfect counseling attributes. On our own, from day one, none of us has had what it takes to be sinless and none of us ever will. If we did, there would be no need for a Savior and Lord. That’s why we need a living relationship with THE ONE who does have what it takes and THE KEY to help us break free – God Almighty.