Freedom!

Happy Independence Day!

Today is the day we celebrate the freedom that we have in our beautiful country, USA.

For years, many fought for us to have the freedoms that we get to enjoy today and we are truly a blessed nation!

It is truly wonderful that we get to live in a country that is as free as it is, but there’s another freedom that we can’t forget.

A freedom that we carry with us every day regardless of where we live, what we do, or who we are.

The freedom we have in Jesus!

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough? Questioned your being? Has anyone said things that made you feel like less than or a failure? Do you ever feel out of place in certain groups or environments?

If you answered yes to any of these, you are not alone!

There are many times I have felt this very same way. People have made assumptions or said things that made me feel I need to be a certain way or follow the path they think I should.

As a mother and wife, I have spent days crying because I have had thoughts that I am not good enough for my children or husband.

More often than not, I feel judged by family and friends because of how different my life looks compared to what they think it should look like.

But guess what? These thoughts are not from God.

One particular day in the past week I was listening to a song and the words rang, “I am who You say I am”.

At that moment, I felt God speaking to my very soul. I am who HE says I am. I am not who this world says I am. I’m not even who my family or my own self says I am.

“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32 NKJV

What is this truth?

The truth is that God has chosen us!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…”

John 15:16 NKJV

Knowing all of our flaws and mistakes before we did, God chose us! And not only did He choose to love us, die for us, and rise again so that we can be free from the weight of sin, but He has trusted us with the responsibility to share the good news with the world.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

Another truth is that, despite all of our sins, God sees us as more than we think we are.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of a darkness into His marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9

God sees us for all the good we are and all that He has called us to be.

There is no greater freedom than being free from the weight that sin (called you out of a darkness) and knowing that we are called for greatness!

So I challenge you today, to replace all the negative coming against your character with TRUTH.

While celebrating our country’s freedom today, don’t forget to celebrate your freedom in Christ.

We are free indeed!