Freedom

The last number of years have been challenging for many people. I think most of us can say that even if we haven't faced challenges in the past couple of years, that we have at some point in life. Today, I'm writing because I want us to celebrate freedom from those challenges.

I am not oblivious about the state of the world at the present time. The fact however is that from the time of the fall, when Adam and Eve first introduced sin into the world we have had something going wrong. There has been any number of forms of sin; from the simple lying to war, and corruption. I say all this so that the message does not get lost in thinking this comes with bad timing. What we all need to learn is that if we are followers of God we always have freedom through our salvation of celebrate.

We will take a trip down memory lane. Anyone who has been reading for awhile will know I site a number of challenges from the past couple years. I was working through a stressful program in school which I'm now out of and seeing the fruits of perseverance. I had been through a really bad, unhealthy relationship with someone who would not leave me alone after the breakup. Now I am with an amazing man and haven't been harassed by that ex in over 8 months. I used to struggle with severe anxiety and now I have faced my anxiety provoking situations and looked to God in those times as opposed to dwelling in my own weakness.

There is freedom in God, but to have this freedom requires some work on our behalf. Just as Jesus provided freedom and eternal life with His sacrifice on the cross, so we must make some sacrifices to have freedom in our lives. The initial sacrifice is leaving the things of this world behind to seek salvation. Some think that is an impossible task but what so many site is that abandoning this world for God was an easy task because we walk alongside with God and He guides us in our new living. The next sacrifice is to surrender our idols. Our idols are what we allow to get in the way of our relationship with God. Personally, I've made many things idols in life, entertainment, school, other relationships and anxiety. We need to learn to choose God first. That's what my goal is of this message, to explain what can motivate that choice.

I was listening to a podcast a number of months back that made a valid point. No one gets to Heaven and says "God I wish I had traveled more", "God I wish I had gotten married", "God I feel like I missed out in life." The fact of the matter is freedom comes in realizing the awe we will feel when we get to be with, praise, worship and share in the presence of the living God. When that becomes your perspective it becomes hard to be wrapped up in the idols that hold us back from freedom.

So I encourage you today to reframe your perspective of Earth. Remind yourself that God will never disappoint and that we should live in awe that He wants to be near us. He chose us. He loves us. He is the reason to live for and with Him we will find freedom.