Still Chugging

I am still chugging along on this journey to freedom.  The Word says Jesus has set me free and I am determined to walk in that freedom.  Slowly learning to still all the voices that pull me so many different ways.  Different preachers, teachers, books, etc.  I am learning to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to me - so softly.  What He says is without error.  I will continue to test everything I believe He is saying to me with scripture and I will keep walking, chugging on this journey to freedom.  Whom the Son has set free is free indeed.

Journey to Freedom

Hello.  My name is Elaine.  I am one bound up chick.  I go from feeling free to feeling like a top spinning out of control in zero to sixty seconds on a regular basis.  If my husband wasn't a saint he would have given up on me years ago.  But he is a saint and he keeps me going by loving me through whatever phase I'm in at the moment.

This battle in my mind is beginning to make a little more sense to me as I think about what I believe God has placed in my heart.  My heart's desire is to love on women.  I want to see every woman set free, healed and delivered.  Feeling like the princess that God created her to be.  So - what better way to keep me from my calling than for me to be bound up in chains.  When I'm bound I'm thinking about myself.  This is a fact Jack.  I get so tired of thinking about myself sometimes I could scream, literally.  And I have.

I have read so many books and done so many Bible studies trying to find the answer.  The one thing that is going to get me to that place of freedom.  All these books and all these Bible studies are written by people who have some kind of issue(s) just like me.  Because no one on this earth is free from issues.  Some visible.  Some invisible.  Some realized.  Some unrealized.  I know down in me that Jesus is the only way to freedom for me.  His Words are the only words that are infallible and not written or spoken by someone with issues and imperfections.  My foundation has got to be Jesus and Him alone.

I have gotten up at 5:00am for years to be alone with the Lord before the noise and busyness of the day begins.  It has been my lifeline.  I can't even begin to imagine where I would be without this seeking of the Lord each day.  Yet still bound.  Still areas of confusion.  Part of that I believe is all the voices around us in the world today.  But that is a different thought for a different post.

One morning in July I was sitting with the Lord.  I had my Bible in my lap and I told the Lord that I sit here every morning like this just searching and digging for a nugget to get me through my day.  To get me closer to that place of freedom that I so desire.  I cried out to the Lord to give me a nugget.  He spoke to me and then He gave me a scripture.

1.  He told me I was punishing myself for areas that I believe I had failed Him.
2.  He gave me this scripture:

Song of Songs 2: 14

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice;  for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Well, after sobbing like a child, I have tried to absorb this.  I have got to forgive myself for my "issues".  He isn't punishing me so I need to stop punishing myself.  And - I have got to come out of hiding and be the woman He created me to be.  He wants to see my face and hear my voice.  He thinks I am lovely and that my voice is sweet.  Who am I to argue with the One that created me and the One who makes all things new.  I have got to be me and accept me and love me so I can help other women do the same.  As long as the enemy can keep me focused on my shortcomings and issues I will stay self-focused and no good to anyone else.

I am on a journey to freedom.  A journey of accepting myself and standing on the Word - the Word written and the Word(Jesus) as He speaks to my heart.  All the other voices have to be drowned out by the one sure Word.

Here's to freedom - one step and one day at a time.  Seeking first Him,...

Freedom / Peace

I tasted freedom and I liked it.  Freedom brings peace or maybe it's vice versa.  Or both.  Regardless, freedom and peace - oh, how I long to be there and stay there. 

Father, help me know where that place is for me.  That place that brings freedom and peace in this everyday life.  I love You.

Freedom

Ahh, freedom.  What a lovely word and concept.  Don't we love to be free.  But freedom seems like that dream we keep reaching for but is so hard to attain.  We think we reach freedom in an area only to find ourselves in bondage in another area.  Freedom.  Freedom.  How do we reach this thing, this place called freedom?

John 8: 31-32 says;
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Well, how many of us think we are doing just that but we are not experiencing freedom?  Count me as one with my hand raised saying yes, that's been me!!  But what if I tell you that I have found freedom?  Would you, do you, want to know what I have found?  Before I answer, keep in mind the following scripture:

1 Cor 1: 26-31
For consider your calling, brothers, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.  God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

The world tells us to be free we must be our own person.  Take care of yourself.  Do what you want to do.  There is no right and wrong.  Don't let anyone tell you what to do.  Be your own boss.  Well, really, how's that been working for ya?

I have found the greatest freedom that I have ever experienced by doing just the opposite. 

I decided to follow Jesus a long time ago.  But I never really made Him the LORD of my life.  You know, I had a relationship with Him and with God thru Jesus, but I still wanted and went my own way.  And let me tell you, many mistakes, poor choices, wavering decisions, tormenting thoughts, anxieties, stress, (I could go on and on) followed me as I went my own way.  Thank God, He cares to much to leave us where we're at if we are seeking Him and our heart is for Him.  He grows us and leads us like any good father does.  Allowing us to make our mistakes so we learn.  Allowing us the opportunity to use what we learn from our mistakes to hopefully help someone else learn.  And maybe save them some hardship.

The freedom that I have found has come through learning about and accepting the sovereignty of God.  It has come from placing myself under His authority.  Most of my decisions are already made.  The important ones anyway.  The answers are found in the instruction Book God has given us - His Holy Word.  When I put myself under His authority and live by His standards and instructions, my decisions have already been made.  I don't have to think, and think, and think some more.  I don't have to let things keep me up at night.  I just do what He says in His Word.  I pray and seek His will then I try to follow it to the best of my ability.  The stress is off of me.  When I give Him the authority in my life I am covered by Him.  How cool is that?  My life becomes His responsibility.  What happens to me is His responsibility.  Just like when I was young, my well-being was my daddy's responsibility.  In his human ability, he did the best that he could.  Guess what?  My heavenly Father isn't fallible like my earthly father.  My heavenly Father knows all things and He ALWAYS has my best in mind.  I don't have to understand the whys, the wheres, the hows.  I just have to trust that He loves me, He wants what's best for me.  He knows how to get me to where He wants me to be.  He is God and there is none other!  And He is my "Abba, Father".  My heavenly Daddy.  Does that mean everything is always peachy, no bad things or circumstances - certainly not!  My daddy had to bring discipline and my Daddy brings discipline when I need it.  Not what I deserve, mind you.  But He knows what I need.  PERIOD.  And sometimes there are circumstances that He allows in my life that aren't even about me.  It may be something to help someone else.  Something to bring Him glory as I receive whatever His hand gives me.  As I receive it still knowing and believing His undying, unfailing love for me. 

So, freedom.  FREEDOM.  The world's way - don't let anyone tell you what is right or wrong.  Do things your way.  God's way - trust Me.  Follow Me.  I've got your back.  I know the beginning and the end.  I've got this thing covered! 

So choose.  The world's way of seeking freedom that leads to death.  Or God's way which leads to life.

Romans 8: 5-8
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.