FREEDOM

I was troubled after receiving a message from one of my best friends about a girl that is experiencing such guilt and condemnation over the past. Naturally, I wrote a response to it, as detailed below. Oh man, if only we would simply cling to our Savior where there is love, joy, peace, and FREEDOM... John 3:17 says, "God did not send His Son (Jesus Christ) into this world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

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Guilt. Condemnation. Fear. Scarred. Those are feelings that overwhelm many unbelievers and even believers. I was one of them. I imagine that most of us have fit this category at one time or another. I came to know the Lord at an early age and I knew He was a God of love, but I didn't let that resonate in my heart. I felt unworthy and like a cracked pot that could never be used or filled with everlasting joy. I knew a lot about Jesus and I knew a lot about religion. It wasn't until the Lord broke me of religion and opened my eyes to a real relationship that I experienced true freedom. Freedom from all of these things that Satan places in our minds to make us feel like we just don't measure up or that we can never be good enough. Guess what? We can't! The great news is that we aren't expected to and we have a great Savior who did just that, He rescued us! It was then that the Lord began teaching me about His character and He began growing me and challenging me in ways I could have never imagined. He healed my brokenness, He covered my sins, He worked through my weaknesses for His glory, He shined His light in the dark areas of my life and made me whole. He put the missing pieces together. He washed my sins as far as the East is from the West. He made me a new creation through Him. He gave me new life. Without knowing the Lord and having an intimate relationship with Him, we cannot understand the freedom that comes from Him and the love that He showers us with. It's imperative that we know Christianity isn't about a list of dos and donts. It isn't about being good enough, trying hard enough, or being the greatest and best at something. It isn't about that and the Lord knew we could never attain that perfection. It is simple. It's about believing and having faith that the Lord is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. In Him is freedom from guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1). In Him is cleansing from all unrighteousness and purification from all of our sins because of His faithfulness (1 John 1:9). 1 John 4:18 shows us that fear has to do with punishment and that perfect love drives out this fear. God is that perfect love - He loves us SO much that He sent Jesus Christ, the flesh of God, to die for us. To take on every single sin that every single one of us has committed, are committing, or will commit. He did that to save us and to free us from our sin and from separation from Him. He wants us - our imperfections and all. This sums it up so perfectly: "He did not come to raise the living or touch the eyes of those who see. It was for the bitter and burned-out. It was for the unforgivable. It was for the failure, standing on the bridge, because the guilt's too high a price to pay to live." (Point of Grace - Come to Jesus) When we don't live in that freedom, we give in to Satan's tactics to kill, steal, and destroy. If he can take our confidence and make us feel unworthy, dirty, ashamed, worthless, used up, etc., then Satan triumphs and Jesus' death was in vain. What a tragedy if we allow that! Rise up. Take a stand against Satan NOW! NOW is the time to surrrender, to fully surrender. This just means telling the Lord, "I can't do this on my own. I've tried it and failed, many times. I'm scared to death, but I'm doing it afraid. I trust you to heal me, to cleanse me, and to make me whole again. I place my faith in you, believing that you sent your Son Jesus to die a painful death on the cross for ME. I believe that He is living now and that I can have a personal, intimate relationship with Him - the author of all creation, relationships, circumstances, everything!" It's that easy. Pray it. Believe it. Expect great miracles. Talk to the Lord just as you would a best friend or family member. He doesn't want/expect fancy language. He wants you to share your heart - your deepest struggles, your biggest fears, your insecurities and doubts, your triumphs, EVERYTHING. Nothing is too big or too small. You can trust Him with it all. You've given so many "worldly" things a chance...why not take a chance on Him?