Chains

(photo from armstrongeconomics.com)

Most likely, your chains are not on your hands and feet, but on your mind. It’ll take more than just wishing to get free.

Surely, you’ve had bad dreams. The only way to get free is to wake up! When it seems like life is caving in on us, we need to awaken to what God has to say about it.

In Romans 12:2 God’s Word tells us to renew our mind. In short, this means to replace the thoughts in our mind that bring us down or lead us the wrong direction, with God’s thoughts on the matter; what we find in scripture. For example, if we bash ourselves with thoughts like, “I can’t do anything right” God wants us to know that we “can do all things through Him (Christ) Who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13)

In Philippians 4:8 God’s Word tells us to think on the good things. This is what enables us to renew our minds. What we think produces what we become. If I constantly criticize myself for being “so fat” I’ll just get fatter. That’s the direction my mind is going to take my body with those kinds of thoughts. Whereas, if I believe that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14) I can begin to realize that I was purposefully made with love; I’m worth taking care of. Once I believe God on this, I’ll care enough to take care of myself. As I read that I am the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19), I discover why I need to take care of my body. I’m housing the very Spirit of God in my heart! If too much weight is making me unhealthy, I can begin to take measures to lose it, by caring for this “temple”.

(photo from cnn.com)

In the book of Psalms, we learn that God wants us to listen to His voice. In Psalm 34:11 we read, “Come, you children, and listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Again, in Psalm 81:8, God Himself implores us, “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you. O Israel, if you will listen to Me!”

God gave revelation to man to write His Word for our instruction and encouragement. To not hear what He has to say to us is like buying a very expensive electronic gadget and tossing aside the instructions, then play around with it trying to figure it out. I don’t know how tech savvy you are, but I’d ruin my expensive gadget quickly. Some of us might figure out the basics of how to get it to work, but if we didn’t ruin it in the process, we’d certainly never be able to take advantage of everything it can do without those instructions. I cringe at the thought of wasting my money like that. I also cringe at the thought of how much God’s put inside of us that we never use, or for that matter, that we never even know about.

(picture from pinterest.com)

In James 2:18-26 God’s Word tells us that we need to put action to our faith, that faith without works is dead. (Works without faith may look good, but they count for little.)

That’s not to say that we can earn anything in the kingdom of God, only that once our faith comes alive, we’ll want to share it. That will include working to bless others. We can’t pour from an empty ladle, so we first need to find the gifts that God has already placed there.

If we piece together each of these points, we have a pretty good blueprint for freedom. Freedom from sin and the thoughts that bring us down. Freedom to live life abundantly, and to share it generously with those around us.

(picture from pinterest.com)

Freedom comes when we renew our mind. Delve into that, today!

Think good thoughts that are uplifting and productive; not evil and lazy and unproductive.

Listen to God’s voice, hear His instructions. Whether He speaks to you through His Word, or the still small voice that draws you closer to His heart, listen.

Act like the child of God you’re called to be. Put your love and your faith into actions, sharing God’s love with everyone you meet.