I'm not talking about the freedom of speech, freedom of rights or anything physical. I am talking about the freedom of your mind and spirit. The freedom of letting go of anger, hurts and things that are out of your control. The freedom to let God sweep in like a rushing river and cover you with the unmistakable peace that passes all understanding. The freedom to have your joy dependent on God and not circumstances. I have always believed that God is my joy and peace but so many times I have not tapped into the true abundance of freedom that He wants to give me. How many times have I yelled out in anger, cried in despair, and let anger and resentment rule my thoughts and my mind? Too many to count. But recently after 34 years on this earth I feel like I am finally understanding this true gift that God wants to give us all. The gift of pure joy and freedom! The gift of joy no matter what the circumstances. Yes we will still feel pain, hurt, and heartache but then when the initial shock has passed we have the choice of freedom or chains. God promises us that he is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. How many times do we stop to claim that promise? Freedom is a choice and freedom is a gift. Think about how excited you are to give someone you love a gift you know the will treasure. I believe that is how God looks at giving us the gifts of freedom, joy and peace. Imagine his sadness as we ignore his shiny box with a big bow he has placed on our lap. Freedom means no longer being consumed by what people think of us, freedom means truly letting to of your deepest hurts, freedom means giving your unknown future to God, freedom means forgiving others and freedom means forgiving yourself. Handing over our tattered, muddy, smelly broken box to God as he replaces it with his shiny, beautiful, clean, rose scented box of freedom, peace and joy.
Today I choose freedom and pray that we will embrace this beautiful gift that is here for us all!
