I would say pretty confidently that most if not all people are looking for freedom. Especially in western culture these days you see it everywhere. People want to be who they truly are and do whatever they want. It’s basically our society. We are all about what we can do to become more free and define freedom and create freedom for ourselves. And if we don’t like who we are we change it. If you don’t like men you decide to date women. If you don’t like being a woman you decide to change into a male. If you don’t want your baby you can abort it. Those are the big things. But it’s in the small things too. If people are sad they try to find freedom from their sadness in the things they desire (sex, drugs, alcohol, dang even things like hiking, running, hanging out with friends). Our society is fighting for freedom in every way possible. It hasn’t stopped, ever really. That’s why laws always change and things become more and more legal.
People continue to desire more and more freedom.
Even people who love Jesus are this way. We love Jesus and are continually seeking freedom. But where do we find it. I mean sometimes when I feel like I need to be free from something I search for freedom in my family or friends and for their approval or sometimes I even try to find my freedom in Netflix. I mean honestly sometimes when I need freedom from an emotion I look to feel free from it in tv and that’s sounds dumb but it’s real. I will also try to find freedom in doing the things; going to church, reading my Bible, worshiping, but are these things actually leading to freedom. Sometimes I think so, but if I’m just doing the things and my heart isn’t in the right place then usually I’m not finding any freedom in it and just dig this whole of feeling like I have to do more and more to become free.
But let’s think for a minute.
Our world keeps digging, keeps pushing, and keeps pulling but it seems like nothing is ever enough. Nothing ever brings the full freedom our world seems to be looking for. So does 100% freedom actually exist??
Yes.
It’s not found in anything of this world. It’s not found in sex, drugs, friends, family, or doing things we think are right. It’s not found in men, women, or continually pleasing yourself with the desires you have. The desires that we have and that we do everything to fulfill will just continue to leave us wanting more freedom and lead us to do more to get it and it’s never enough.
But….. Jesus is enough. Full, 100% Freedom is found in Jesus Christ. It’s found in surrender. Its found in accepting who Christ has created you to be because of who He is. It’s found in fully giving yourself over to the Lord and actually acknowledging you can’t put Him in a box for anything. We say this all the time. But actually sit down with Jesus and ask Him to reveal where you put Him in a box. Because I promise, you don’t want Him there. Before I went on the World Race I searched for freedom everywhere. And I truly thought I had it but I’ve actually never been so free in my life. I had God in a box. I only let Him work in certain things because I honestly didn’t know He could work in everything. I didn’t know worship and praising Jesus is a place I can do whatever I want and I don’t have to sound good and it doesn’t have to be perfect. I didn’t know that I could sit in silence with Jesus and have a full conversation with Him. I didn’t know that Jesus gives us visions and words for ourselves and the people around us. I didn’t know I could ever fully love myself and be okay with what I like because He has created me uniquely. I have never experienced freedom in Jesus Christ like I have this past year and it’s because I’ve let Him out of the box I tried to keep Him in. Jesus has met me in a whole new way. He’s showed me true freedom. And my freedom isn’t what you’re freedom will look like. That’s the most beautiful part about it. We are all different. God created each and every one of us so uniquely and so perfectly and in His image, which means our freedom looks different. The way we interact with Jesus will be different. The way we worship will be different. The way we hear God speak will be different. The way the Holy Spirit will work through us will be different. The convictions will be different. Our opinions will be different. Our revelations from Jesus will be different. AND THATS OKAY because God wanted us to be different and use our gifts differently. He wants us to own the freedom we have in Him and carry it with excitement and allow that freedom to overflow wildly onto others. And He doesn’t ever want us to shut down anyone else for the way their freedom in Jesus looks.
So let’s really sit back and hang out with Jesus. Ask Him about where we aren’t finding freedom in Him. Ask Him where we put Him in a box. Tonight I did.
Tonight I realized how much of a heart I have for fighting for people’s freedom so here’s a little part of me talking to Jesus tonight during worship: “Jesus I’ve realized going home will be hard. And I’m thankful you’ve given me a month where I have to wake up daily and choose humility and choose love. I’m thankful you’re saying “hey Paige. Look, I’m preparing you.” I’m thankful you care enough to give me a little picture of what it will be like. IM THANKFUL YOU ARE SHOWING ME HOW MUCH PASSION I HAVE FOR FREEDOM. I could literally scream all day about the freaking freedom we have in you. It’s the sweetest gift I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I actually am so in awe that you got up on that cross and said “PAIGE WAKE UP THIS IS FOR YOU. I want you to find so much freedom in what I’m doing at this moment. I want you to feel it and walk in it and bring it to others.” We actually have all the freedom we ever need and it’s incredible and beautiful and Jesus, you did what you had to do for me to have that freedom because you love me so freaking much and you want me to fully experience freedom. And see when others aren’t walking in it or when people are shutting down other peoples push and desire to walk in freedom. Jesus you’ve given me a heart to fight for people’s freedom. You want me to reach down and with you completely holding me, pull them up. Bring them further and further into who you’ve created them to be. I want to continue holding on and finding freedom to become more and more into who you’ve created me to be. I want to see the places I’m not walking in freedom and walk in it. I want to walk in complete freedom from fear of not hearing you correctly. I know I hear you and I pray for so much assurance and wisdom that I just do what I need to when I hear your voice and don’t question it because I actually know when I hear you and I don’t want to talk myself out of doing or saying things when you’re asking me to. Show me the fear that almost stops me or does actually stop me and speak truth into it and so much freedom please Jesus! I want to continue to be free, and I want to walk in your freedom only.”
Heres a blog my sweet friend, Stella wrote: It shows how different people are allowed to be as humans and in the freedom Jesus gives us. It’s so worth reading. https://stellaudeozor.theworldrace.org/post/dare-to-live-free-pt-5
