Today I am contemplating how much I lack the discipline that leads to freedom.
What kind of freedom is it that I desire? I desire the ability to do what is in my heart. I long to achieve the excellent things that God has given me to achieve.
It is one thing to desire to be free, it is another to be qualified!
External freedom comes to those who are free on the inside!
What does it mean to be free on the inside?
- It means to be at peace with God. A free man knows He is forgiven and doesn’t have to miss-the-mark in their thoughts or actions anymore.
- It means to be at peace with others. A free man has forgiven those who have harmed him. A free man is not controlled by the perceived or real violations perpetrated by others.
- It means to be at peace with oneself. A free man has forgiven himself for all of the ways that he fails in the first two items on this list! A man in bondage dwells on the past. A free man acknowledges his pain but is somehow able to forgive himself and keep moving forward. I think this requires God’s help!
- It means to be able to deny oneself. A free man is able to set aside his fleshly pleasures and comforts in order to do the things that will truly take him where he wants to go! I still remember the story of the brother prince who was unable to leave his prison even though his brother the king left open all the doors! The imprisoned brother was too fat and the king kept him well fed. The prisoner was unable to stop eating, lose the fat, and walk out of the open-door prison!
A free man can not be controlled by others! It is impossible. Others may be able to harm his body or even torture his mind, but they cannot destroy his conscience. I suspect that there have been many free men living in “slave” like situations, and many slaves living in apparent “freedom.”
This reminds me of America. We think freedom means “I can do whatever I want.” It appears that we want slavery.
True freedom can only come from God. This sounds mysterious or poetic but it is quite real. God gives us forgiveness. God also teaches us how to live. The Laws of the Bible are in many ways a description of how a free people would live!
Somehow I’ve got to get these Proverbs into my soul. Somehow I’ve got to stay rooted in the forgiveness of God. Somehow I’ve got to have the faith to believe that God’s way, though sometimes painful in the moment, brings true happiness and liberty in the long run.
God help me to know Your Ways! Help me to have Internal Revelation of Your Principles! Help me to have Internal Strength to live them out!
I am reminded that God has put His Spirit inside of us. “His Divine Power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness!” (II Peter 1:3,4)
“He is the One who works in us both to will and to do according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
So… Since we can count on God to be doing this great Process of Freedom inside of us, maybe there is hope for me after all!
Come Lord Jesus! Inside of me!