“Why settle for deliverance when you can be free?” – Christine Caine, IF Gathering
I love celebrating the 4th of July. I’m a patriot at heart and am (mostly) proud to be an American. Like any country we’ve got our issues, but I am grateful for the everyday freedoms I experience. In spite of our crazy American egos and weird extremists, (oh, and the stone-age use of the US customary measuring units), we have it pretty good here. I love celebrating the 4th of July because it reminds me of the beginning of our country. I believe that knowing where we came from will remind us of what’s important – our foundations – and help us get where we want to go.
In 1776 our founding fathers set out to declare independence from the British Empire by establishing a “resolution of independence,” which a few days later became the Declaration of Independence. Our founding fathers courageously delivered themselves out of the hands of King George III, and into a new divided and independent land, but they didn’t just stop there. Deliverance into these new colonies, and independence from Britain wasn’t enough – they sought the life their forefathers had set out to find in America and one they knew they were also meant to live – a life of freedom – and established that freedom 239 years ago. And here we are today, still with so many freedoms that many other nations don’t have.
Knowing where we came from will remind us of what’s important – our foundations – and help us get where we want to go.
Christine Caine told a similar story at IF:Gathering this year where she preached from Joshua 5 about the Israelites wandering through the desert, but this story took a slightly different turn. The Israelites were told to go to the promise land, a land of milk and honey, a land of freedom from slavery and from Pharaoh, yet it took them 40 years to make a 2-week trip. The imagery Chris laid out has really stuck with me, especially as I continue to meet women who seem to be repeating the cycle of those Israelites.
I keep meeting women who are stuck where they don’t want to be, but don’t care to move out of. Women of great faith who have been delivered from the chains of their past but not walking in freedom. They carry guilt and shame like a banner across their foreheads. Delivered, but not free. They walk in fear and anxiousness, not letting go of their chains because “what if…”. Delivered, but not free.
I don’t pity them. I sit across the table and empathize with them. I’ve been there too. I know what that’s like. In fact, I would venture to say that most of us have experienced moments or seasons like this in our stories. Yet, as we recognize this, we must remember it’s not the pursuit of happiness that we should pour ourselves into, for even freedom does not promise happiness. We ought to be pursuing Christ fully and recklessly, and experience abundant joy in the life He has laid out for us – the good, bad, and everything in between. But if God has laid out another life for us, a life of abundance and freedom in Christ, why are many still choosing to live in chains?
What’s it going to take for you to realize the life you are living is not an abundant life? At what point will you realize God has so much more in store for you if only you’d step out in faith and walk in freedom? Letting go of whatever is holding you back; letting your past stay in the past, letting the future stay in the future and focusing on today. What is causing you to live delivered but not free?
If God has laid out another life for us, a life of abundance and freedom in Christ, why are we choosing to live in our chains?
This 4th of July I am finally celebrating a life of freedom. Freedom from my past, and the anxiousness of my future. Freedom from my frustrating circumstances, busy life, and unmet expectations. Freedom from the shame. Freedom from the anger of injustices, and ultimately, freedom from any other chains I willingly place on myself everyday. I’m done with that kind of life you guys, aren’t you?
If you don’t live the life of freedom that God has designed for you, then who will? {tweet this}
To close, I’ll leave you with a modified thought from another article I wrote a while back. In regards to your freedom…
If it were up to me I would make the decision for you. I would pack you up and ship you off into the life that Christ died for and God is calling you to, but it’s not up to me; it’s up to you. Your abundant life in Christ is beckoning you – it is within your reach. Your idle posture proves you have convinced yourself another can take your place or that you are not worthy, but you are wrong. There is no one else who can take your place and Christ has made you worthy. {tweet this} But if you choose to remain there, watching your future – independent of those chains – fade to black, the world will never know you and you will have lived a life delivered, but not free.
But if you choose to remain there, watching your future – independent of those chains – fade to black, the world will never know you and you will have lived a life delivered, but not free.
Make today a marked moment in your life. Make today the day you declare your independence from those chains that you’ve continued to carry. Decide today to live a life of freedom in Christ, casting all of your chains at His feet and embracing the abundance He has already promised you.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Happy Independence Day, let’s celebrate 🙂
Click HERE to sign up for my mailing list, and get my first FREE white paper called “What I Wish I Would’ve Known in my 20s” as my sincere thanks for your continued support!
Copyright: stefanolunardi / 123RF Stock Photo
Pingback: STG Friday Faves - Vol. 5 | Self Talk the Gospel | Home()
Pingback: Maria Smith()
Pingback: Melanie Bowen()
Pingback: mortgage calculator canada()
Pingback: land for sale squamish bc()
Pingback: mortgage broker vancouver()
Pingback: buy cialis()
Pingback: viagra()
Pingback: cialis()
Pingback: viagra online()
Pingback: cialis online()
Pingback: viagra pills()
Pingback: cialis pills()
Pingback: buy generic cialis()
Pingback: cialis 20 mg()
Pingback: how to get cialis()
Pingback: generic viagra()
Pingback: buy generic cialis online()
Pingback: buy generic cialis()
Pingback: cialis canada()
Pingback: viagra generic()
Pingback: cheap viagra()
Pingback: ed pills gnc()
Pingback: cheapest ed pills online()
Pingback: mens ed pills()
Pingback: cialis 20 mg()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy()
Pingback: Viagra or cialis()
Pingback: online levitra()
Pingback: levitra price()
Pingback: real money casino app()
Pingback: play online casino real money()
Pingback: sildenafil citrate()
Pingback: slot games()
Pingback: real money online casino()
Pingback: tadalafil 5mg()
Pingback: cash payday()
Pingback: no credit check loans()
Pingback: no deposit bonus casino()
Pingback: cash advance()
Pingback: viagra cost()
Pingback: casino moons online casino()
Pingback: online casino for real cash()
Pingback: buy cialis()
Pingback: casino games android phone()
Pingback: best slots to play online()
Pingback: cialis to buy()
Pingback: cialis internet()
Pingback: cialis 5 mg()
Pingback: cialis generic()
Pingback: play casino()
Pingback: online casino real money usa()
Pingback: best online casino usa()
Pingback: real money online casino()
Pingback: viagra 100mg()
Pingback: viagra for women()
Pingback: viagra canada()
Pingback: buy viagra()
Pingback: buy viagra now()
Pingback: levitra()
Pingback: cheap tadalafil()
Pingback: generic viagra without subscription walmart()
Pingback: viagra no prescription()
Pingback: brand viagra over the net()
Pingback: where to buy viagra online()
Pingback: cialis tadalafil()
Pingback: cheap viagra generic()
Pingback: goodrx sildenafil 100mg coupon()
Pingback: generic viagra 100mg()
Pingback: red viagra 200mg pills generic()
Pingback: online gambling()
Pingback: real money casino()
Pingback: buy viagra from overseas()
Pingback: generic viagra 100mg sildenafil prescription()
Pingback: best place to buy 50 mg generic viagra()
Pingback: viagra()
Pingback: where can i buy viagra from uk()
Pingback: buy viagra online()
Pingback: Viagra 25 mg united kingdom()
Pingback: Viagra 130mg australia()
Pingback: cheap Viagra 25 mg()
Pingback: cheap viagra()
Pingback: Viagra 50mg coupon()
Pingback: generic cialis from india()
Pingback: Viagra 50 mg canada()
Pingback: Viagra 200 mg medication()
Pingback: viagra sale()
Pingback: Viagra 100 mg uk()
Pingback: cialis generic cialis()
Pingback: buy Viagra 130mg()
Pingback: order sildenafil()
Pingback: Cialis 20mg united kingdom()
Pingback: Cialis 40 mg cheap()
Pingback: Cialis 60mg coupon()
Pingback: where to buy Cialis 20 mg()
Pingback: cialis generic tadalafil()
Pingback: Cialis 10mg otc()
Pingback: viagra dosage()
Pingback: rxtrust pharm()
Pingback: buy generic viagra()
Pingback: Cialis 20 mg canada()
Pingback: sildenafil()
Pingback: order Cialis 20 mg()
Pingback: cost of sildenafil 50mg()
Pingback: buy cialis online()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy viagra()
Pingback: lasix 40mg united states()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy no prescription needed()
Pingback: order viagra()
Pingback: viagra without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: ou trouver viagra sans ordonnance()
Pingback: aldactone 100mg uk()
Pingback: allegra 120mg without prescription()
Pingback: amaryl 1mg coupon()
Pingback: amoxicillin 500 mg without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: antabuse 250 mg cost()
Pingback: viagra for sale()
Pingback: cialistodo.com()
Pingback: aricept 5 mg generic()
Pingback: viagra dependency()
Pingback: ashwagandha 60caps canada()
Pingback: cheap cialis()
Pingback: cialis price compare()
Pingback: cheap augmentin 750/250 mg()
Pingback: avapro 300 mg tablets()
Pingback: avodart 0,5mg without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: generic drugs without doctor's prescription()
Pingback: bayviagra()
Pingback: bactrim 400/80mg without a prescription()
Pingback: RxTrustPharm()
Pingback: buy cialis in india()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy viagra()
Pingback: cialis england()
Pingback: cheapest calcium carbonate 500 mg()
Pingback: side effects of viagra()
Pingback: viagra in oil()
Pingback: www.viagra.com()
Pingback: cheap cialis()
Pingback: catapres usa()
Pingback: how to purchase ceclor()
Pingback: buy viagra()
Pingback: order ceftin()
Pingback: celebrex canada()
Pingback: celexa 20mg canada()
Pingback: impotance()
Pingback: cephalexin 500mg canada()
Pingback: rx trust pharm()
Pingback: cipro 250 mg otc()
Pingback: claritin 10 mg pharmacy()
Pingback: cheap viagra()
Pingback: online casinos usa()
Pingback: vegas casino online()
Pingback: slot machine games()
Pingback: casino world()
Pingback: play casino online()
Pingback: online casino usa()
Pingback: vegas casino online()
Pingback: ED Pills Without Doctor Prescription()
Pingback: casino games online()
Pingback: online casinos for usa players()
Pingback: california car insurance quotes()
Pingback: car insurance quotes comparison()
Pingback: car insurance quotes companies in texas()
Pingback: order viagra generic()
Pingback: ontario car insurance()
Pingback: home and car insurance quotes()
Pingback: tadalafil()
Pingback: buy viagra jelly()
Pingback: full coverage insurance()
Pingback: auto owners car insurance()
Pingback: first acceptance insurance()
Pingback: mexico car insurance()
Pingback: dairyland car insurance()
Pingback: how much does viagra cost at free clinic()
Pingback: personal loans california()
Pingback: fast payday loan()
Pingback: vitamin sex()
Pingback: best payday loans()
Pingback: Buy viagra us()
Pingback: canada ed drugs()
Pingback: installment loans for bad credit online()
Pingback: quick loans los angeles ca()
Pingback: viagra cialis()
Pingback: canada viagra()
Pingback: bad credit loans in pa()
Pingback: viagra wiki()
Pingback: bad credit payday loans()
Pingback: best viagra online()
Pingback: amoxicillin 500 mg tablet()
Pingback: personal loans georgia()
Pingback: buy tadalafil online()
Pingback: does cbd oil help tinnitus()
Pingback: viagra bdsm()
Pingback: can you vape cbd oil()
Pingback: cialis samples request()
Pingback: sildenafil online mexico()
Pingback: buy cbd oil walmart()
Pingback: viagra reviews()
Pingback: cbd oil vs hemp oil comparison()
Pingback: online viagra order india()
Pingback: cheapest viagra()
Pingback: viagra tabs()
Pingback: cbd oil benefits webmd()
Pingback: what is sildenafil()
Pingback: personal loans()
Pingback: sildenafil 50mg tablets in india()
Pingback: cbd oil for horses for anxiety()
Pingback: order viagra()
Pingback: difference between hemp oil and cbd oil()
Pingback: viagra online buy india()
Pingback: warnings for viagra()
Pingback: reputable cbd oil companies()
Pingback: levitra for sale()
Pingback: can i buy cbd hemp oil at walgreens()
Pingback: cialis canada()
Pingback: generic viagra capsules()
Pingback: write essays online()
Pingback: pfizer viagra 100mg()
Pingback: is it illegal to buy viagra online()
Pingback: connect online homework()
Pingback: professional research paper writers()
Pingback: atorvastatin mold()
Pingback: cheap custom essay writing service()
Pingback: online essay writing service review()
Pingback: good essay writing service()
Pingback: viagra soft tabs 100mg()
Pingback: scholarship essay writing service()
Pingback: buy an essay online()
Pingback: paper writer generator()
Pingback: the assignments()
Pingback: cheap viagra fast delivery()
Pingback: cleocin generic()
Pingback: clomid 50 mg cost()
Pingback: clonidine 0,1 mg uk()
Pingback: 100mg viagra()
Pingback: canada cialis()
Pingback: Buy viagra now online()
Pingback: clozaril pills()
Pingback: colchicine 0,5 mg cost()
Pingback: generic viagra cost()
Pingback: symbicort inhaler 160/4,5 mcg no prescription()
Pingback: cialis 20mg effects()
Pingback: combivent 50/20 mcg without prescription()
Pingback: coupons for viagra()
Pingback: coreg without prescription()
Pingback: cialis()
Pingback: where can i buy compazine()
Pingback: Canadian healthcare viagra()
Pingback: coumadin 2mg uk()
Pingback: https://writemypaperbuyhrd.com/()
Pingback: cheap cozaar()
Pingback: cheap viagra in australia()
Pingback: order custom essay()
Pingback: dissertation uk()
Pingback: crestor online pharmacy()
Pingback: online essay help()
Pingback: essay correction service()
Pingback: cost of cymbalta 20mg()
Pingback: buy viagra online()
Pingback: uk thesis()
Pingback: buy college research paper()
Pingback: writing with a thesis()
Pingback: dapsone caps uk()
Pingback: where to buy ddavp 0.1 mg()
Pingback: depakote 500 mg online pharmacy()
Pingback: diamox usa()
Pingback: differin 15g online()
Pingback: where to buy diltiazem 60mg()
Pingback: Pfizer viagra 50 mg online()
Pingback: cheap viagra()
Pingback: doxycycline 100mg generic()
Pingback: dramamine 50mg usa()
Pingback: order elavil 10mg()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy review()
Pingback: how to purchase erythromycin()
Pingback: brother sister viagra()
Pingback: Zithromax online()
Pingback: etodolac generic()
Pingback: dosing augmentin for dogs()
Pingback: where can i buy flomax()
Pingback: how much is viagra()
Pingback: help me write an essay()
Pingback: flonase nasal spray usa()
Pingback: viagra sister()
Pingback: how to purchase garcinia cambogia caps()
Pingback: treatment with drugs()
Pingback: viagra demonstration()
Pingback: geodon 40 mg uk()
Pingback: cheapest hyzaar 12,5mg()
Pingback: bactrim vs keflex()
Pingback: tadalafil online()
Pingback: imdur 30mg generic()
Pingback: how long does it take for cialis to work()
Pingback: cialis 20mg()
Pingback: viagra or cialis()
Pingback: imitrex 50 mg otc()
Pingback: ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen with zzzquil()
Pingback: oxybutynin chloride er 10 mg()
Pingback: imodium online pharmacy()
Pingback: pills like viagra over the counter()
Pingback: online viagra prescription()
Pingback: over the counter viagra substitute walgreens()
Pingback: what is tizanidine 2mg tablets()
Pingback: look at this now()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy viagra()
Pingback: free viagra()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy()
Pingback: imuran 25mg over the counter()
Pingback: abilify discmelt()
Pingback: allopurinol effects on kidney function()
Pingback: indocin 25mg generic()
Pingback: buy generic zithromax online()
Pingback: lamisil tablet()
Pingback: how to clear amiodarone from your system()
Pingback: generic viagra()
Pingback: cost of levaquin 500 mg()
Pingback: warnings for amitriptyline()
Pingback: lopid 300mg without prescription()
Pingback: what is the generic name for norvasc()
Pingback: lopressor without a prescription()
Pingback: luvox otc()
Pingback: amoxicillin vs ciprofloxacin()
Pingback: macrobid 50 mg tablets()
Pingback: meclizine coupon()
Pingback: where to buy viagra pills()
Pingback: medications to avoid with abilify()
Pingback: best erectile dysfunction pill()
Pingback: Frumil()
Pingback: mestinon without prescription()
Pingback: moa atorvastatin()
Pingback: azithromycin and benadryl()
Pingback: online pharmacy reviews()
Pingback: Betapace()
Pingback: micardis otc()
Pingback: Valtrex()
Pingback: mexican online pharmacies()
Pingback: mobic australia()
Pingback: baclofen and alcoholism()
Pingback: canadian pharmaceuticals online safe()
Pingback: motrin 200 mg nz()
Pingback: canada drugs online()
Pingback: nortriptyline without a prescription()
Pingback: does aleve interact with baclofen()
Pingback: canada drugs online()
Pingback: real viagra for less()
Pingback: periactin otc()
Pingback: does wellbutrin work()
Pingback: cost of phenergan()
Pingback: buspar generic name()
Pingback: plaquenil united kingdom()
Pingback: prednisolone coupon()
Pingback: serotinin syndrome buspar()
Pingback: prevacid 15mg online pharmacy()
Pingback: prilosec 20 mg without prescription()
Pingback: carvedilol smallest dose()
Pingback: proair inhaler coupon()
Pingback: order viagra online()
Pingback: procardia 30 mg no prescription()
Pingback: generic viagra online()
Pingback: citalopram crush()
Pingback: proscar tablet()
Pingback: protonix online()
Pingback: provigil nz()
Pingback: herbal viagra gnc()
Pingback: get a particpating for viagra()
Pingback: generic for bactrim()
Pingback: pulmicort online pharmacy()
Pingback: viagra generics price()
Pingback: amoxicillin 875 mg tablet()
Pingback: pyridium pills()
Pingback: reglan nz()
Pingback: vardenafil dosage()
Pingback: remeron 30 mg online()
Pingback: zyrtec 10 mg tablet price()
Pingback: tadalafil 5 mg()
Pingback: retin-a cream 0.05% united kingdom()
Pingback: levitra side effects()
Pingback: order revatio 20mg()
Pingback: lady viagra()
Pingback: risperdal 4mg tablets()
Pingback: robaxin medication()
Pingback: rogaine otc()
Pingback: seroquel 200mg uk()
Pingback: singulair australia()
Pingback: skelaxin 400mg usa()
Pingback: generic viagra walmart()
Pingback: spiriva canada()
Pingback: tenormin prices()
Pingback: how to take cialis soft()
Pingback: online viagra()
Pingback: thorazine canada()
Pingback: toprol pills()
Pingback: pills for men enhancement viagra()
Pingback: tricor 160mg online()
Pingback: buy valtrex 1000 mg()
Pingback: verapamil nz()
Pingback: where to buy voltaren()
Pingback: wellbutrin 150mg over the counter()
Pingback: zanaflex 2mg united states()
Pingback: cialis generika()
Pingback: zestril 5 mg without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: discover here()
Pingback: zocor pills()
Pingback: zithromax 250mg()
Pingback: zovirax 200 mg united states()
Pingback: zyloprim 100 mg tablet()
Pingback: cheapest zyprexa 10 mg()
Pingback: viagra how it works()
Pingback: zyvox 600 mg price()
Pingback: sildenafil pills()
Pingback: tadalafil 10mg without prescription()
Pingback: buy furosemide()
Pingback: cost of amoxicillin 875 mg()
Pingback: how to purchase escitalopram 20mg()
Pingback: aripiprazole australia()
Pingback: review cheap cialis()
Pingback: pioglitazone 15 mg coupon()
Pingback: spironolactone otc()
Pingback: canadian drugs pharmacy()
Pingback: fully erect penis with viagra()
Pingback: how to buy fexofenadine()
Pingback: glimepiride for sale()
Pingback: viagra without doctor prescription()
Pingback: meclizine 25mg without prescription()
Pingback: buy leflunomide()
Pingback: buy cialis online()
Pingback: atomoxetine otc()
Pingback: donepezil without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: cheap anastrozole()
Pingback: sildenafil generic()
Pingback: buy irbesartan()
Pingback: dutasteride united states()
Pingback: olmesartan 20 mg over the counter()
Pingback: buspirone 10mg generic()
Pingback: clonidinemg purchase()
Pingback: cefuroxime 125mg over the counter()
Pingback: celecoxib pharmacy()
Pingback: mail order and cialis()
Pingback: citalopram 10mg nz()
Pingback: buy cialis south africa()
Pingback: cephalexin coupon()
Pingback: cialis online()
Pingback: ciprofloxacin purchase()
Pingback: cialis at walmart()
Pingback: cialis professionel()
Pingback: order clindamycin()
Pingback: clozapine 100mg cost()
Pingback: buy cialis online overnight()
Pingback: how to buy prochlorperazine()
Pingback: how to buy viagra cheaper()
Pingback: viagra()
Pingback: carvedilol no prescription()
Pingback: buy cialis on line()
Pingback: cialis without presciption in usa()
Pingback: northwest pharmacy canada()
Pingback: warfarin 5mg for sale()