Free from Captivity

Free from Captivity

What has each of us in bondage? It may be money, power, status, "likes," jealousy, greed, gossip, substances, perfection, fear, etc.

Image by Elias Sch. from Pixabay 

"the state or period of being held, imprisoned, 

enslaved, or confined"

synonyms: bondage, enslavement, restraint, duress, imprisonment

dictionary.com

Solomon was the wisest person who ever lived. First, he was humble enough to know he needed to ask for wisdom. He displayed this wisdom in his words at the dedication of the temple recorded in 2 Chronicles 6 & 7.

God's response to Solomon stands true for each of us today:

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ~2 Chronicles 7:14

Today, let us realize what exactly is holding each of us captive. The desire for more? The yearning for power, money, etc. Let go. Let go. The key to free each of us is in God's Word.

Believe it. Seek God's face today &

become free from captivity!

All You Can Eat Buffet

Photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash

Each morning reading Scripture offers a new experience. The morning, my mood, the Word all converge into a fresh adventure each day. These times refresh me like a satisfying meal. Today, I Peter 5 offers so much advice it felt like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

I'm typing these powerful verses separately so each can be a serving of the Word for us to reflect on today. Enjoy this feast!

• verse 6: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's might hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
• verse 7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

• verse 8: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

• verse 9: "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

• verse 10: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

The Work of God

An architect lays out plans to peruse. Everyone involved in the project scrutinizes those plans, and they deliberate on aspects that may need to be altered.

God does not work this way.  Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

God has a plan. He is not revealing it to us. This plan to prosper us is unfolding before us. We are to trust the Lord and His Word.

Will every moment of this plan be without sadness or suffering? No, of course not. An interesting sermon recently highlighted verses recorded in John 9 when Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth. The disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'

Jesus' response gives us a glimpse at how God's plan works: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

"...but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Think of notable figures in Scripture such as Job, Daniel, Moses, Joseph, David, Esther, and Paul, to name a few.

"...but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Think of the ups and downs in each of our lives, and we can gain understanding and hopefully, comfort when we insert these words from John 9:3, "...but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

A Quiet Life?

Is a quiet life possible? Is it an oxymoron? My first instinct was to dismiss the concept, just as my first instinct was to dismiss the Marie Kondo method of "tidying up" when my daughters told me the show was a Netflix must-see.

Part of Marie Kondo's philosophy is the following: "Tidy your space, transform your life."

Let's actually consider these words in light of the following scripture:

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 
~ I Thessalonians 4:11-12

Mulling over this advice with a cup of coffee, it makes sense. I don't have to overschedule and be run ragged to fulfill my purpose. On the contrary, I may actually fulfill my purpose better by keeping calm and taking care of "my own business."

These words from Paul to the Thessalonians share the same message, and they actually go a step further. Tidy your own life, so that you may influence others. (These verses come immediately after Paul complimenting them on their ability to show brotherly love and challenging them to "do so more and more."{verses 9-10})

Having four children, my life may never actually be quiet, but I know that I can certainly do some "tidying" in this area that will benefit not only me, but my family, those around me, and most importantly, my witness for Christ.

Why not give it a try this month? Let's make it our ambition to lead a quiet life.

The Real Enemy

   

     If you know anything about The Hunger Games trilogy, you know Katniss, her braid, and her bow and arrow. When looking deeper, you can see a very important message runs through the series: Recognize and be aware of the real enemy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/books/katniss-everdeen-hunger-games.html

     Katniss is like many of us, frustrated with the injustices she sees around her. She is irritated by family, by poverty, and by government regulations. These day-to-day struggles often overshadow her greater purpose. Katniss is reminded on more that one occasion: "Keep in mind the real enemy."

     Is that true also of us?
     We must keep in mind the words of I Peter 5:8. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

     The real enemy is not our spouse, our children, our co-workers, or friends. These people are in the fight with us. They are each here to help us recognize and face the real enemy, the one who is trying to overwhelm and overpower us.

     Today let us view others as teammates who are in the fight with us and follow Hebrews 3:13, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today."
This way we will all be better prepared to face the real enemy.