This morning I was feeling a little groggy and tired when I woke and made coffee, flopped on the couch and flipped on the tv. I don't usually do this but when I did, there it was. News that three young women had been freed after being kidnapped and held for over 10 years. Everyone is wondering how they made it through for so long, how they dealt with it. In Amanda Berry's word to the 911 operator:
"I'm free."
I began to think, after listening to all the news about the story, that many of us are being held captive too but the difference is that we don't even realize it. We're held captive by anger and unforgiveness and we're held captive by lust for food and alcohol and tobacco and we're held captive just by our lack of knowledge and lack of desire to learn and to understand our purpose here on earth. Many people avoid Christianity because they fear they will be held captive by a bunch of stodgy old rules that they don't want to obey and by an image that they will have to fulfill.
If they only knew what freedom there is in knowing and loving Christ. There is freedom in knowing how it feels to be loved and protected. There is greater freedom than ever imagined in facing a challenge and coming through it, whether it's with the perfect outcome or not. As Lisa said on Sunday, "Either way I win."
How awesome to learn that the laws of God are freeing and not stiffling or limiting. How freeing to know that those laws were designed for us, for our wellbeing, so that we might live the best life possible. Maybe I shouldn't call them laws. That has such a strict, arbitrary sound to it. Maybe better to call them "directives". Knowing and loving God has freed me in so many ways. My prayer today is that it does the same for each person reading today's journal.
"So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for this glorious day. Thank You for another day to live and love You and honor You.
Father, thank You for the freedom that comes with being counted one of Yours.
I ask that you be with Sadie today as she continues to try to strengthen her blood. Her count isn't high enough for chemo this week and I pray that when they recheck it on Thursday, she'll be strong enough to help with the healing that is coming her way.
Thank You Father for holding Lisa in the palm of Your hand as she goes through the preliminary steps for her stem cell transplant.
Thank You for everything You do.
In Jesus precious name, the name above all names.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment