Freedom to be

Freedom is the absence of fear and doubt. I have often failed to choose a new direction even after the old way had proven unfulfilling and even miserable. I have been imprisoned by the thought that I am better off remaining in a familiar place than risking trying a new direction because of the potential to fail. I didn't seem to realize that my present suffering may have been familiar but it was no less undesirable than the possibilities I feared. At least with the new way comes new opportunities most of which would represent an improvement on my imprisonment. Freedom entered to release me from my self-imposed lock down and offered the opportunity for escape. Not only that, Freedom offered to show me the right way out and the only way in.

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) NIV

Deposits of culture and spirituality

We can be so careless about what we receive into our spirits. We are sometimes reckless in our decisions and open ourselves to images and ideas from sources that we have not adequately reviewed or explored. We reason that we have the capacity to sift through it all and choose what is good and reject what is destructive. The problem is that there are small deposits being made of culture and spirituality in the most insidious ways that ultimately orchestrate a cultural and spiritual agenda that may undermine our well being while we are casually ingesting stuff from unknown sources.

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) NIV

The places I have been

When I look back over my life, it overflows with the blessings of God. God's amazing grace has saved me from countless errors and outright departures from the will of God. However, I don't take God's grace for granted. I am praising you this morning Oh God for your amazing grace and I am praying as I celebrate your goodness that I will walk in obedience and realize your divine design for my life.

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. (Deuteronomy 8:10-11) NIV

Stay focused

Stay focused. Set your gaze on what is now and look forward to what is ahead. The past can be instructive. The principle of Sankofa tells us that looking back is important but it is purposeful in moving ahead, avoiding repeating the mistakes of the past. But don't get distracted by the nostalgia of the past or mesmerized by it. Quickly return to the present, applying the wisdom of the past and fully give yourself to the present as you press on toward the future God has promised.

¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14) NIV

Taking inventory

Today I am taking inventory, remembering my beginnings and how far I have come. I am praying this morning and praising God for countless blessings and God's grace and mercy that have sustained me even when I was not making the best decisions. In times of challenge we can be so busy asking that we fail to celebrate what has already been given. It is in the celebration that we realize God's power and are assured of God's presence with us.

⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace

is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) NIV

Listening for God

This week God is calling me to pay attention, seek to please God and allow myself to respond thoughtfully, real time expecting God to tell me what to say.


Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11) NIV