“For freedom Christ has set us free…” Gal. 5:1
They were planted on the same day, alongside each other – two dogwood trees gracing my grandmother’s side yard – one white and one pink. We lived in the house next to my grandmom’s, and I as I grew, I watched the two trees grow. Over time, the white one spread its limbs, ascended heavenward and towered over the pink one. Before long, the white one filled the side yard and was as high as my grandmother’s second-floor attic apartment. Its flowers were stunning each April. The pink tree was beautiful too but was dwarfed and spindly, never seeming to thrive.
One day my dad dug around the base of the pink tree to loosen the soil, and there it was – a plastic band embedded around the trunk of the tree that had never been removed. It restricted the tree’s growth for over 20 years, keeping it from becoming all that it was destined to be.
Many of us who are Christ followers also have bonds that restrict us from becoming all that we were destined to be. Those bonds come in the form of trauma, unhealed wounds, generational curses, pride, idols of the heart, cherished sins, bitterness, addictions, unresolved grief, guilt, shame, and condemnation. They’re strongholds based on the enemy’s lies that we’ve believed over the years.
Jesus is our Deliverer who came to set us free. In Him we’re new creations; the old is passed away. We don’t have to carry around baggage; we can lay it down. We’re no longer called to live out of old mindsets, old habits, and old identities. When we surrender our lives to Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit fills us and renews our minds with truth. We receive supernatural power to walk in the truth that sets us free. We don’t have to live like prisoners -prison doors are open. We’re no longer captives – chains are broken. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil (I John 3:8) and disarmed the demonic rulers and authorities (Col. 2:15) that once enslaved us. If we believe the truth and walk in it, we are free to enter the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
This Independence Day, let’s celebrate our greatest freedom – the freedom that Jesus purchased for us on Calvary – freedom from the power and penalty of sin and death. Let’s celebrate being delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13). We’re complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). We were once slaves of sin that leads to death, but now we’re free to become slaves of righteousness that leads to life eternal (Rom. 6:16-18). We’re indwelt and sealed with His Spirit who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure (Eph. 1:13; Phil. 2:13). We’re blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). We’re redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). We’re reconciled back to the Father as dearly-loved sons and daughters (II Cor. 5:18-19; Rom. 8:15-16). We’re forgiven, justified, cleansed, and made righteous (II Cor. 5:21). Nothing can separate us from the Father’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39). Let’s celebrate that oneness (John 17:21), and walk in dependence on the One who set us free.
“Lord Jesus, I confess that there are areas where I’ve lived independent of You, thinking that freedom meant having it my way. I’ve been deceived. Today, I recommit myself to You and surrender to Your lordship. Have Your way in me. Holy Spirit, dig deep in me and expose the lies that have kept me bound and hindered me from becoming all that You’ve destined me to become. I choose to receive Your word, abide in You, and obey Your voice. Lead me in the path of true freedom that You died to give me. I choose to walk in the truth that sets me free.”
Lisa Moore