The Path To Freedom

In the movie, "The Fighter," there is a scene where Mark Wahlberg's character realizes he is never going to succeed as a boxer as long as he and his family refuse to face the truth about his brother.  His brother is supposed to be his trainer but never shows up to train with him.  He is a former boxer who threw a promising career away on a crack addiction.  When the boxer finally faces the truth about his brother and makes the decision to go forward with another trainer, he begins to see success.  Eventually he becomes a champion and his brother is able to be there for him, drug free--all because he chose to face the truth.

Behold You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Psalm 51:6  AMP

Facing truth is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you have believed something for many years or even for your whole life.  If you have believed something for a long time, it may have become your "truth," instead of the truth.

..."I have set before you life and death, the blessings and curses; therefore choose Life, that you and your descendants may live."

Deut. 30:19  AMP

"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are Life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."

Prov. 4:20-22

God has given you a free will.  You get to choose what you are going to believe.  The best way to face truth is to find out what God's Word says about you and your circumstances.  If God's Word says it, it's truth.  If what you are believing is not what the Word says, then it is a lie.  If you choose God's truth (His Word), you are choosing Life.  If you choose to believe lies, you are reverted back in your mind to the curse realm, which is what Jesus died to redeem you from.

"Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us..."

Galatians 3:13  AMP 

Do you feel rejected or unloved?  Jesus was rejected so you could be loved and accepted.  Are you sick or depressed?  Jesus took depression and all disease and sickness so you and I could live healed.  Jesus loved you so much that He took rejection, pain, depression, shame, guilt, condemnation, poverty, lack, and all disease, illness, and sickness and nailed them to the Cross so that you wouldn't have to live in the curse realm.

Don't live by how you "feel."  Feelings and emotions can deceive you into thinking they are truth.  You don't have to agree with your feelings.  When you make decisions based on how you feel, you will almost always make the wrong decision.  This will keep you in negative circumstances and relationships.  One of my favorite Joyce Meyers quotes is, "Are you going to believe the God of the Bible or the God of your feelings?"  Make a decision to choose God's truth and follow the path to freedom.

But God!

BUT GOD-- so rich is He in His mercy!  Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us...

Eph. 2:4-10 AMP

Now to Him Who, (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams]...

Eph. 3:20 AMP

Many people struggle with believing they are loved by God.  Life experiences may have devastated them, stolen their dreams, stripped them of their self worth or caused them to distrust people.  Perhaps they were rejected by the one person who should have loved them the most, but didn't.

No matter what has happened in your life, know that God's love can heal every empty, aching, unloved place in the human heart.

Today, choose to receive the love that God has for you by faith.  In the same way you received Jesus as your Savior, you must believe and receive God's love for you.

When you truly know that you are loved by God, you can trust Him with your heart and trust that He has a purpose and plan for your life.  When God puts a desire in your heart, step out of your comfort zone and do it!  In Him, and through Him, you can do more than you have ever imagined or even dared to dream of.  His plans for you are better and higher than the plans you have for yourself.

You matter to God.  You are never just a face in the crowd or on the outside looking in.  These are lies from the enemy.  The truth is that God loves you more than you can fathom.  You have been placed on planet Earth for a distinct purpose at this time in history.  You may have made mistakes or taken wrong turns but that doesn't negate the plans and purposes of God for your life.

Step out in faith and dare to be who God has made you to be.  Be obedient to what God has spoken to you.  Don't wait for others approval and don't worry how other people will react.  Know that God loves you and He is for you.  Not everyone will celebrate you, BUT GOD does!

Never Give Up!

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him, I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.  Rejoice not against me, O my enemy!  When I fall, I shall arise.  When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.

Micah 7:7-8 AMP

Do you have places in your life that don't seem to be working or seem dry?  Have you been praying over a situation for years but nothing seems to have changed?  Are there things in your life that you don't think will ever change?  Don't give up!  Take heart.  No matter what is going on around you, choose to have a Micah 7:7-8 attitude.  "But as for me...!"

As a believer, your enemy, Satan, may try to push you down, but if you fall, he can't keep you down.  In Christ you will rise up!  If things seem to be dark and problems are looming, know that the Lord is your light in a dark world!  (Ps. 27:1)

• Don't look at your cirumstances or at other people's experiences.  Look to the Lord.  Put your confidence in Him. (Prov. 3:26)
• Keep watch over what you say.  (Prov. 18:20)  Don't talk about your problems, find scriptures to pray over your situation.  Believe what God says about it.
• Make it a point to have a positive attitude.  Negativity will keep you stuck.  Choose to keep moving forward.
• Guard your heart and mind.  Don't let fear, anxiety, bitterness, offense, anger, depression, etc. settle in.  (Prov. 4:23, Phil. 4:7)
• Make a decision to stay the course.  (1 John 4:4, Rom. 8:37)
• Don't lose hope.  Refuse to see your situation as hopeless.  Choose to remain hopeful.  (Zec. 9:12)
• What Satan tried to hurt you with, God can turn for your good.  (Gen. 50:50, Rom 8:28)
• God can and will bless you even when you are surrounded by problems or the enemies attacks.  (Ps. 23:5)
• Don't waiver or doubt.  Be stable.  (James 1:6-8)

Scripture References:

Ps. 27:1  -  The Lord is my Light and my Salvation- whom shall I fear or dread?
Prov. 18:20  -   A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequences of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].
Prov. 4:23  -  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
Rom. 8:37  -  Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
1 John 4:4  -  He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
Zec. 9:12  -  ...you prisoners of hope...
Gen. 50:20  -  ...you thought evil against me (Joseph), but God meant it for good...
Rom. 8:28  -  ... all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Nothing is Too Great or Too Small for God!

... The Lord will perfect that which concerns me...

Psalm 138:8 AMP

... Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

I Peter 5:7 AMP

If it concerns you, it concerns God.  Nothing is too small or insignificant to go to Him about.  Whether you are struggling with a broken relationship, a sick puppy, a stressful job or even a bad hair day, it all matters to God.  Yes, God even cares about your hair--so much so that He numbers the hairs on your head!  (Luke 12:7)  Don't believe that God doesn't have time to be involved in the details of your life.  God is never too busy for your small stuff!

It is awesome to know that there is no problem too great or too small for my God.  I can talk to Him about decorating my house, my hair color, or my weight or I can talk to Him about more important issues like my marriage, my children, or my finances.  If I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father and stand securely in His love for me, I can rest in that love and know for a fact, that because He loves me, he will "perfect that which concerns me."  What peace!

I pray that you will know and understand how much God loves you (Eph. 3:16-20), that you will know that you are not on your own, and that you will choose to trust God with everything that concerns you--even with the most intimate, minute details of your life.

Cindy