It is for freedom....

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“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

That verse always seemed a little redundant and strange to me.

I always assumed that it was for my own freedom that I had been set free. But, standing there ironing my pants, suddenly it occurred to me. The moment that I know all too well, when God gently taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that, gulp, it’s not all about me!?!?

It is for our individual freedom that He sets us free, but if we stop there, we sell an amazing God waaaaayyyyyy short. It is for freedom that we have been set free. Not just for our freedom, but for the freedom of others.

It’s hard working breaking free of bondage, it requires a heart that fully submits to the Savior and allows Him to come in and tend to the wounds. But what good is it to keep that healing to ourselves? Yea, we might feel a bit better, but what good is freedom if everyone around you still lives in captivity?

I have been struggling lately with showing my freedom anywhere other than behind a computer screen. For a while, I kind of felt like sharing my thoughts on my blog was good enough. I didn’t need to share things in person, after all, if I just friended them on Facebook, they could read my blog, and I would never have to speak!

Speaking is just different. When someone reads my blog, I don’t have to watch their reaction, I don’t have to open myself up for questioning, I don’t have to be quiet as vulnerable. But when I speak it, I get all nervous and red and sweaty, and I bind myself all up in knots.

But why? It is for freedom that I have been set free!!!! And for the first time I get it. I have been set free so that others may receive freedom. It is for their freedom that I have been set free. How selfish of me to keep this freedom to myself, it is for FREEDOM that I have been set free.

The verse goes on to say, stand firm then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I must stand firm! I must be brave. I must not let myself be bound up in knots, because it is for freedom that I have been set free. Others need to know that there is freedom! That there is life. That they can too be set free.

Girlfriend, if you have been set free, please join me! It is for freedom that we have been set free, and everyone needs to know it! Don’t just write it, but speak it! Live it, shout if from the rooftops. Take that suit of shame, and that yoke of slavery and send it straight back to Satan where it belongs. You have been set free, for freedom! Stand firm then! And speak it sister!!!

And if you feel captive right now, don’t give up. Seek counseling, reach out to friends/church members/family members, dive into your bible like it’s the only thing you have left, and pray till your knees dent the floor. And most of all, know that He will never leave or forsake you. A bruised reed He will not break. I don’t always understand His timing, sometimes it seems all too slow to the hurried girl, but I know that His timing is never ever a single second late. Trust Him with all your heart, plead with Him to help you overcome your unbelief that He loves you, and give Him your everything. He won’t let you down.

I have the awesome privilege of guest posting over at Samantha’s blog this week at www.fieldsgold.blogspot.com. Her line up of guest posters this week include some amazing women including Melissa Taylor, Wendy Blight, and Mary DeMuth – not to mention the AWESOME Samantha Reed herself!!!! Come on over and visit as we learn lessons about how to jump off the negative thought train!!!!

And linking up with my awesome sisters over at Jen's Finding Heaven!!! How does a girl like me get so blessed with so many awesome sisters in Christ!?!? Basking in the awesomeness of it all! I am one happy, freedom, shame suit free girl.