This week in the U.S., we celebrate our freedoms. Yet as Christians all around the world, we can celebrate the freedom that God gives to each of us who believe.
God’s Gift of Freedom
Do you consider yourself free? I’m not talking about having political or religious freedom. I’m talking about living a life defined by freedom rather than oppression.
When I look back over my life, I’ve spent decades of it feeling oppressed. Though I’ve always been a Christian, I did not accept the freedom God gave me until the past few years. I was chained to the opinions of others. Their criticism and control held me in bondage. I chose to invest too much in imperfect human relationships, which constantly let me down.
God set me free through the comfort of his constant presence, the power of his Word, and the fellowship of the church. The more time I spent in prayer with God, the more I felt listened to and accepted. When I studied and meditated on his Word, I learned more about God’s character and love for me. The more time I spent with my brothers and sisters in Christ, the greater hope and perspective I gained.
You can find the same freedom that I did. If you are burdened by broken relationships, past sins, or deep hurts, God longs to set you free. He will provide everything you need according to the riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). He has freedom ready and waiting for you!
A Meditation on Freedom
Let’s meditate on Galatians 5:1 NIV to understand this freedom God gives us:
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.
When Jesus died for our sins, he set us free from the curse of death. He freed us from all the obligations of fulfilling the law, because he fulfilled it on our behalf. Jesus set us free, because he wants us to live an abundant life.
But we are constantly under threat of becoming slaves to sin once more. Satan is our spiritual enemy, and he does all he can to hold us down in oppression. We are also at war with our sinful natures, the world around us, and people who intentionally and unintentionally hurt us. Even as believers, we can struggle with feeling oppressed.
Choosing Freedom
Only with God’s help can we choose freedom over oppression. For me, this is a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour choice for good rather than evil. I fight oppressive thoughts with the truth of God’s Word. Prayer and praise help reorient my viewpoint. With God’s help, I’m retraining my mind to find freedom paths rather than paths that lead me back to oppression. I’m also gaining ground in the spiritual battlefields where the fights begin.
(This is the topic of my upcoming book, Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus. If you subscribe to my email list below or in the pink boxes on this page, you’ll be the first to know details about its upcoming book launch and release! Plus, you’ll get access to more free printables like the one below just for subscribing.)
We can fight oppressive thoughts and choose freedom with the truth of God's Word. #freedom #thoughtlife #printable Click To Tweet
A Prayer for Freedom
I hope this prayer helps you choose freedom today.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the great gift of freedom.
I can’t have freedom outside Jesus’ costly sacrifice.
Help me to never take my spiritual freedom for granted.
Remind me that I have the power to choose freedom over oppression.
You have defeated sin, death and the devil with your resurrection, Jesus.
Help me trust in your strength as I fight against Satan’s schemes.
Set me free from the cries of my flesh, which hold me in bondage.
Free me from the attacks of the world and people set against me.
Release me from the thought life traps which often snare me.
Help me be free from the sins of the past, which you have already forgiven.
Give me a love for your Word, so I can use it to know you better.
Draw me close to you in prayer, so I can feel your great love for me.
Heal me with the fellowship of other Christians, so I can become whole.
Holy Spirit, help me choose freedom over oppression in all areas of my life.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
I’ve prepared a free printable of this prayer to help you choose freedom over oppression. Click below to get your printable.
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