FREEDOM IS A GIFT
Matthew Griffin
Today’s Scripture: “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5, NLT
Theme: The key to real freedom is trusting God with everything and seeking Him wholeheartedly.
FEELING FREE ISN’T ALWAYS BEING FREE
If you’re anything like me, you get extremely excited for vacation. Vacations are so nice, because they feel so free! Anytime you can go several days without having to set an alarm clock is amazing. You can do whatever you want or...not do whatever you want! For a small period of time, you are not tied down by anything. But the last day of vacation always inevitably comes. No one ever looks forward to the end of the week, because you know that once it’s over, it’s back to “the real world.” In contrast, your regular life feels the opposite. Your late nights turn into early mornings as you drag yourself out of bed. Early mornings lead to long, difficult work hours, until you make it to the weekend, another small two-day break.
Most of the time we just want to be Maverick, the high-flying, awesome, free-spirited, war hero of "Top Gun." When we think of freedom, that’s what we think about. We see freedom as fame and riches, not mundane work schedule, but rather the life that influencers post about in the Caribbean every other week. We imagine we would love nothing more than to retire at 40 with no responsibilities other than to just have fun the rest of our lives. You know the dreams I’m talking about--the ones that make you say, “Man, if I could just…”
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
Colossians 3:2 (NIV) says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” These things that we define as freedom are ultimately temporary. As followers of Christ, we are already free. “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, NIV). In this world, we will always be faced with clutter that distracts us and seems to tie us down. It’s time we changed our view and definition of freedom to God’s definition.
When we trust that not only is God with us in every situation, but He is purposefully directing us, that’s where we find our freedom. Today’s verse is, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you” (Psalm 37:5, NLT). When we give our plans over to let God do what He wills, then we are letting the same God Who created everything also create our path. “As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 18:30, NASB).
Make it Personal: What are the lies about being free that you may believe?
- “This new job will double my salary; that is what I need to be happy.”
- “If I can just pay off all my debt, then I won’t have any more worries.”
- “Just weather the storm, be tough, and you can get yourself out of this.”
- “If I can just quit working and retire, then I’ll be happy.”
- “Once I graduate, then I’ll have my degree, and everything is going to be perfect”
- “I can’t wait to move out of my parents’ house. Once I can make my own rules, then I’ll be free.”
- “I’ll never be free. I will struggle with this until the day I die.”
What lie rules your life, but needs to be surrendered today?
Pray: Father, today I humbly surrender to You. I have tried to create my own path to freedom, and I have fallen short. I give You my plan, so direct me in Your perfect will. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being with me to teach me and lift me up when I fall. Thank You, Jesus, for creating a path to freedom for me. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Psalm 23; Exodus 3
Weekly Memory Verse:
“Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5, NLT