What is True Freedom? If I am being honest, when we first started this month I did not ask God to tell me what true freedom means, but God made it known he wanted me to learn about it. One of our team norms is fasting together, before we started fasting we watched a sermon on what fasting is. Then a couple of weeks later I watched another sermon on what fasting is( both by different churches but the views lined up). In these videos about fasting, they started talking about what true freedom is. I wanted to share what God has been teaching me through the videos and my quiet time with him. I wanted to share the definition of freedom: the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants and the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. I remember when I started off at MR(Merci’s Refuge), I was mad because I missed my “freedom”. Not being able to have my phone, go where I wanted, or do what I wanted, couldn’t even watch what I wanted. I missed the freedom I had not realizing that freedom was the reason why I struggle with certain sins or the reason why my friends struggled with addiction. After MR once I got that freedom back, When I would struggle with depression instead of using the tools I was taught I would drink alcohol to calm me down and to get me out of my head. After a couple of times, I learned quickly that if I didn’t turn away from this I would become addicted to alcohol.“We were free until we weren’t”- Pastor Charles at Transformation Church. We don’t know what true freedom is, we only know what worldly freedom is. Which is us doing whatever want we not realizing it could lead to slavery later. Us being addicted to that drug, person, drink, mindset, etc that we so freely choose. A lot of worldly freedom can turn into slavery later, What does freedom in Christ looks like? Freedom in Christ to me looks like being able to walk in my identity, not worrying about what the world says about me. Freedom in Christ to me is being able to walk in step with the spirit. Freedom in Christ to me is running to God instead of worldly things that will not fill me up. Freedom in Christ to me is knowing that I can say no to things that won’t help me grow and trusting in God. Freedom in Christ to me is taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. Freedom in Christ to me is knowing I am forgiven and that I don’t have to keep doing that same sin pattern because I know once I run to God he won’t judge but he will help me turn away from it. Freedom in Christ to me is being who God has made me to be and not what the world thinks I should be.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
What is a Worldly freedom that you are letting go, so that you can step more into the Freedom that Christ has given you?
Little update: I can’t believe we are halfway done with the World Race. We were supposed to be in South America but due to Covid restrictions we will be in Europe for two more months I think, and then we will go to Africa to finish off our time on the race. In Albania, we have been visiting villages, sharing bible stories with the children, helping with Sunday school, going to women’s bible study, and sharing our testimonies. We have five more days here then we are off to Romania.
Thank you for sharing. This is definitely a lesson that I need to continue learning. A hard one and a big one.
Thank you for sharing your heart so honestly and beautifully. This sounds to me like your own personal Psalm 18:19, “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” Keep living out your freedom in Him, dear Makalah!
Thanks for sharing your freedom truth! Prayers for your continuing freedom and joy in running with Jesus! May we all choose to continue—Ephesians 2:10.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!!! Wow, super good, Makalah! So encouraging as my word for the year is Freedom and working to discover what it truly means. Love this. Thanks for sharing with us! Keep running free my friend!
Will be praying for you.
Thanks Karen
Thanks Carolyn!
Thanks my sweet Friend Anita
Love this Makalah. True freedom, Amen. I remember having those conversations about your biggest reasons for not wanting to go to MR and some biggest frustrations initially being their. God will reveal in his timing what he’s doing, right? Thanks for sharing God’s faithfulness and what he is currently teaching. HALF WAY DONE, crazy. Love you Makay
Wow somehow I must’ve missed this update! Such words if wisdom Makalah! I’m praying for you! Learning to be free in Christ is something I continue to learn more of the closer I get to Jesus!
Makalah… you already know how I feel about you, and all of the wisdom you have. There is just so much truth in this blog!! This line is so important: “A lot of worldly freedom can turn into slavery later.” Spoken like someone whom the Son has truly set free!!