Let Freedom Ring!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Happy Freedom day! I love the fourth of July for all the same reasons most of you do… grilling out and chilling out with your family and friends, watching the glow of fireworks, enjoying some time in the pool with the kids… and most of all that we get to live in America. It’s a blessing to live in this country and I for one am proud. I couldn’t help but think about the term the “American Dream” though. The American Dream is this perfect little picture that society puts on us in order to be good and productive people. Nothing wrong with being good or productive but this “dream” we are pushing so hard for might be the very thing that is keeping us bound. If all we do is work then when do we live? If our only pursuit is money, then when do pursue Jesus? Let’s even dig a little deeper… Are you truly free?

Well as a country we are free, but as individuals we could be as captive as a death row inmate. What I mean is in our hearts and our spirits… are you free? I recently had someone ask me that question and I was glad to share with them how God had restored me and how He set me free. It was a lively conversation because the path that God had set them on was different than the path God had set me on. For some people God does instantaneous and miraculous deliverance from something that has kept them down for years. Then on the other hand, for people like myself, it has taken a process of years of discipleship, growth and transforming my mind to experience true deliverance and more importantly, to be more like Jesus.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  -Romans 12:2 NIV

This process of transformation isn’t something that is going to come easy. No matter how you became free, it’s even more important to maintain that freedom. Regardless of what type of freedom we’ve experienced in the past, freedom isn’t a one time event. Freedom in our minds and hearts is a daily battle because the enemy doesn’t respect your freedom. When you are on purpose and on target, the enemy is going to attack your freedom with every opportunity and temptation possible!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  -Galatians 5:1 NKJV

So freedom is a daily fight. It’s worth it. Stay free and don’t give up any ground today!

Oh…. and eat a burger and light a sparkler 😉