Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,
but living as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
Everyone but me.
It’s true. You actually believe that God is faithful and powerful and has good plans for you.
But, in order to keep believing, to keep your testimony intact, you’ve worked out a deal with your heart. And you’ve done God a favor:
“I’m going to hold [insert pain/illness/fear] away from your feet, Father. In fact, we’ll put it in another room, one that doesn’t include your throne of grace. Because I love you, but I know you haven’t/can’t/won’t bring restoration to these particularly difficult things. So I will save us both the embarrassment and the disappointment. But I’ll be careful, don’t worry. I’ll carry them quietly, keeping my struggle off the radar for anyone else to see, always protecting your faithful reputation.”
Whether you’ve consciously mapped it out or not, we do this. All of us. From the struggles that meet us with the morning light to the ones that are so deeply buried, we’ve nearly forgotten the weight of the chains we’re so trained to carry.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
It’s not that we don’t want freedom. It’s that, at our most honest core, we don’t believe it’s possible…for ourselves.
In a recent, particularly heavy season, I felt my walls give way under the weight of things they were not built to bear. And then, like tiny pieces of dust in the light, buried pains began drifting to the surface. I could feel it all. Desires, fears, inabilities and failures I’d stuffed away in private places. All over the corners of my soul, the things I’ve decided to handle (or ignore) on my own, came out from hiding. And the reality of just how much was here overcame me. I felt I was pulling apart at every seam.
Eyes opened, I began to see the lies I’d been inhaling as subconsciously as the oxygen filling my lungs.
That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:21
Half-living in freedom is fully living in bondage.
WAKE UP. The lies of your enemy are catered directly to you. They are not new, but they are most personal, and, in time, they can become indistinguishable from your own voice.
Spiritual warfare is not something we purpose to do in a moment. It’s the place where we live, it’s what fights for us, against us, in us, around us, every single second of every single minute. Our feet walk on natural ground, but it’s our spirit man that guides us. Without respite, we balance the small nudges of the Holy Spirit against the screams from the father of Lies.
Do you feel it?
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
It’s why we can easily relinquish pieces of our lives to the Father, but hold other parts far from the mercy seat. Understand that the enemy will let you have a bit of Christ. Head above water faith is effective enough to keep him under the radar and you too tired to make the really big waves. It’s the reason we can have the power-of-the-cross-momentum in one minute, yet, before we’ve made the moves that matter, the lies choke it out. Satan will let you talk a big talk all day long, but his lies will stop you from walking a big walk.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19
Those of us most effected? The Highly-Called. Revival Starters. Movement Makers. You have a fire in your soul that tells you to do more. MORE THAN MORE. But as the still small voice tells you “Now”, the chains bound to parts you’ve held back from a good, good God, stop you. Again. And again.
You are not called to do God a favor.
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in POWER. 1 Corinthians 4:20
Friends, it’s time to lay down the lies. Sweep out the corners. Believe that God is the GOD of YOU. He can heal you, restore you, provide for you, forgive you, guide you, and power-house-move you into your actual calling. You are not created to be just head above water. Get on the wave and ride it in the power of His intricate call and bold purpose over your life.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ: Resist the devil, and HE WILL FLEE from YOU. James 4:7
You are not the exception to the promises of Jesus. You are the reason. The reason for the cross. The reason the battle was already fought and won. No more excuses. Hand those “hidden” pains and lost dreams over to His faithful hands and start believing what you, yourself, say.
KNOW IT:
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. 2 Corinthians 13:4
SAY IT:
HE GIVES POWER TO ME when I’m faint. When I have no might, HE INCREASES MY STRENGTH. Isaiah 40:29-31
My faith does not rest in the wisdom of men but IN THE POWER OF GOD. 1 Corinthians 2:5
I am fully convinced that GOD IS ABLE to do what HE HAS PROMISED. Romans 4:21
And, friends, Get on Social and share this link. I can’t make this tidal wave of truth wash over dry bones alone. I need your help to spread this passion and spark the conversation. We aren’t over here pretending on our own that we can handle things. All too many of our people are in the same impossible boat. Shake someone up today.
