Third day of training camp in Copperhill, Tennessee and my journal is full of things to process. One of the core themes from the past three days has been freedom, which is fitting considering the holiday we’re celebrating as a nation this weekend. Though I miss celebrating with my family the freedom that we experience in in the United States, the Lord has blessed this weekend with the opportunity to experience a different kind of freedom. With leadership from the worship team, who inspires incredible energy and excitement, we sang, “We are free” many times over. And this freedom comes not from the law of our country, but from Jesus, who came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to cover the sins of the nation. Through Christ I am set free from sin. I am free from the fear of man. I am free from comparison. I am free from finding comfort in things apart from the Lord. Declaring truths like these has become a consistent part of my time here. I stand believing that my first identity is as a daughter of the Lord. This foundation has given me incredible excitement for the year to come. I do not live in bondage to sin, but in freedom. My life is being used and will be used to share the love of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who God sent to those who believe in Jesus Christ. And this not to say that there will no longer be doubt or hardship. There will be. But I am excited for the challenges to come because I know that out of hardship comes growth.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
