FREE IN YOU

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3, NIV).

Lord, you accept and love me in my weakness and feebleness. I can be who I am with you. There is just you and just me. There is no image I have to keep. There is no mask I have to hold in place. There is no agenda that has to be met. There is no perfection that I need to maintain.

You see beyond all my limitations, and you love me still. You always see my potential, and never my failures. You know what you have created me to be, and that is not something that I must struggle to receive. I am a new creature in you because of who you are. Not because of who I am. The idea that the you love me with an everlasting love is beyond my human capability to conceive.

When I open my heart, mind, and spirit to you, I receive your freedom to believe in the potential you see in my life. In that amazing love, I discover who you have always meant for me to be. I have been set free from my limited human understanding, and I am filled to overflowing with the freedom that you have brought into my life. I am no longer in bondage to my human failures! I am free in you!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV).

MOVE ON IN ME

“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, 'Friends, haven’t you any fish?' 'No,' they answered. He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord,' he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

“Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. 'Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead” (John 21:4-14).

Peter is fishing with other disciples. Perhaps his mind is plagued by his denial of His Savior. Peter cannot forget his sin. He is devastated by His failure. He has denied his Lord. After their incredible catch, John recognizes this man on the shore as the Lord. Peter has been working partly clothed on the boat. Now suddenly he wraps himself in his outer garment, and jumps in the water to help bring in the fish. I am not well-versed in the customs of that day and bringing in fish. But I find it strange that he puts on his outer garment to jump into the water. However, he has heard John call Jesus, “Lord”, and he realizes that this is the Lord he denied knowing three times. With the sudden awareness of His Savior's presence, Peter is physically, emotionally, and spiritually stripped before Him. Grabbing his outer garment he covers himself and jumps into the water to help gather in the fish. He is not only physically stripped. He is spiritually stripped by his failure, and with His broken heart, he is emotionally stripped. But there is nowhere to hide from the Savior on the shore. He finally climbs back into the boat.

Peter does not know what is about to happen, but he feels unready to face the Lord. He does not know that he is about to be made new in his heart and mind‒so that he can forgive himself as the Lord has forgiven him. This is the third time the Lord has appeared to the disciples. And remember that Peter denied he knew Jesus three times. The scene for forgiveness is set.

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, “Feed my sheep'” (John 21:15-17).

There on the seashore where Jesus has cooked their breakfast, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Picture Jesus and Peter sitting around the fire coal fire. The others must have left, because this was a time for Peter and Jesus. Jesus asks him three times, and Peter says he loves Jesus three times. Jesus tells him three times to feed his sheep‒to reach others in His name. He tells Peter his focus is in the wrong place, and his mind is in the wrong place. Peter is thinking of his failure instead of his mission.

Jesus lovingly takes Peter back to the point of his three-fold denial by a coal fire, and tells him it doesn’t matter now. It is no mistake that Peter and Jesus are by a coal fire at this moment. Peter surely remembers the coal fire where he denied Jesus. But Jesus is saying “forgive yourself as I have forgiven you. The past is over. Peter, if you love me, move on to feed the sheep. Don’t allow your past failure to stop you.”

Just as Peter, we make foolish attempts to hide. We try to cover ourselves, but Jesus knows. We can't hide our failure from Jesus. He knows what they are, and He doesn't want them to define our lives. Jesus longs to take each one of us the point of our denial—of our failure, and say “you are healed because I am resurrected. Move on in me.”

His Word Sets My Heart Free

“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”(Hebrews 4:12).

Scripture has something to say about itself. What it reveals speaks clearly of its own worthiness. The Word of God is alive. It breathes powerful truth and life into my tired dry existence.... into my heart that is crushed.... into my mind upon which Satan etches lies. ... into my dry bones which ache for His breath of life. It slices through doubt and speaks faith. It exposes wrong attitudes and desires of my heart. It opens my heart to listen to His instruction and obey His truth. It sets me free from my own conditional favor.

The Word of God instructs that I not only believe in what it says, but that I also trust its truthful message by applying it in every aspect of my life. Not only must my action be under its holy guidance, but, most importantly, my heart must be pure in its motive. I respect and honor its truth when I live it, and my heart is changed by its powerful message.

I can trust God's Word in every moment of my life. Its very nature is timeless! It is unchanging, and just like Jesus Christ, it is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I can believe its truthful direction for all the circumstances I face, and for decisions I make. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” ( Isaiah 55:10-11). His Word has a purpose, and it will accomplish Hebrews 4:12 in my life if I will study it and open my heart to its truth.

Not only is it timeless, the Word of God is absolutely trustworthy. I can stand on what it says. I can believe in its promises. Its truth was witnessed and shared by those who personally experienced the power of God. It is God's living Word. He breathed it in human writers with the breath of His Holy Spirit. As I study it and seek His truth, He also breathes His life into me. It changes me to be more like Him. It changes the attitudes and desires of my heart. And then I can rejoice in the path of His commands, because His Word has set my heart free (Psalm 119:32).

Lynn Lacher

Isaiah 61:1-3

^“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
       instead of ashes,
       the oil of gladness
       instead of mourning,
       and a garment of praise
       instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

Lord, we pray for you to empower us to share your love, and to bring healing to broken hearts and tormented minds. Lord, use us for your glory.... to declare freedom to those who are are bound up in darkness of spiritual and emotional pain. You have called us to this purpose, and we yearn to be faithful. Today we speak life to everyone you bring into our path. We speak hope and faith and promise of release from the prison that has held their heart and mind in chains. This is their day of favor. Today is the day of victory. Chains fall off, and minds are covered by the sacrificial flow from Calvary. You are the provider of comfort for those who have mourned and been in tortured pain. You are the deliverer of those who grieve. Where once they have seen only death and ashes, now they will see the beauty of your healing presence. Joy will be their cry. Instead of the mourning of a broken heart, they will be alive in joyful praise. Praise will lift their spirit of despair. Praise will bring peace and joy. And, Lord Jesus, they will be planted as strong oaks with deep roots that anchor their blooming faith. Where once they could not weather the storms, now they stand sure and tall. Their anchor holds. Their lives will be a display of your power of healing and purpose. Use us, Lord, for this very purpose, and we are fulfilled in you.

In Jesus' name.

Forgive God and Forgive Yourself

Have you ever felt like God has let you down? Do you feel disillusionment in your heart? Perhaps you believe He made you a promise that He didn't keep. Perhaps your whole world has been turned upside down and your heart is broken. He is your Father and He is suppose to care for you. Why did He let something happen that you believed with all your heart He would prevent? The hurt escalates. One of two things happen. You either become outwardly angry with God and run from Him, or you internalize that anger and feel guilty for being angry at God. Either way you end up at the same location. Unforgiveness has taken root. And that will rob you of your joy.

We hear so much about the person that becomes outwardly anger and runs from God. I'd like us to consider the Christian who feels like God has failed them, and is angry at themselves for being angry at God. Not only do they have trouble forgiving God for what they believe is His failure, they have trouble forgiving themselves for being angry at God.

            “Do not judge,” Jesus instructs, “and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). We always consider this verse being about judgment toward others. How about considering this verse as being about judging God and judging yourself? Christians who know it is wrong to be angry at God turn their anger on themselves for being angry at Him! They don't want to sin and be angry at God, so they become angry at themselves. And a horrible cycle of self-destruction begins. You have to break the cycle. Admit your anger. Admit you need to forgive not only Him, but you need to forgive yourself.

           You have a choice what to do with the disillusionment, the hurt, and the anger. If you allow that hurt to define who you are, anger will immobilize you. You are then in bondage to your inability to forgive God and forgive yourself. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” Paul writes (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Holy Spirit invites you to acknowledge your the hurt that caused the anger so you might forgive. God does not want you in bondage to your hurt or your disillusionment over what you believe is a failed promise. That hurt and anger can become your own failure. You have the freedom and the power to forgive God and to forgive yourself.

                Are you tired of the hurt that has robbed you of your joy? Be real with God. Tell Him you have been angry at Him because you believe He has failed you. Tell God you have been mad at yourself for being angry at Him. Ask for His forgiveness, and break the cycle. Lay all of it on His altar, and begin the journey of healing. Never close the door that the Holy Spirit has opened. Continue to be honest with God when hurt starts to build. You have asked forgiveness for judging God and judging yourself. Remember that a small slide back down the hill is not total failure. Don't condemn yourself for the small failures. Climb your mountain knowing He not only carries you to the top, but total healing awaits you there. It is your real promise.

A Good Choice

Is it difficult to know if you are making a good choice? When faced with a decision are you so overwhelmed with confusion that you become stagnant and don't move ahead at all? Does the fear of making the wrong decision have a strangle-hold on your mind?

“Now what I am commanding you today,” Moses tells the Hebrews people at Moab, “is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach” (Deuteronomy 30:11). He has told them that they must choose life or death. He has told them that their decisions will bring either one. But he tells them that is also not difficult to know if their choices are good or not. It is not out or your reach either, or is it too hard.

How is it possible? Moses answer to the Hebrew nation is also an answer for each one of us. It speaks of the best scenario for our lives. “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:14). Is the Word in your heart? Do you absorb it until its message builds faith in your heart?

Faith to believe you are capable of continually making good choices comes from hearing the message, and the message is only heard through the word of God (Romans 10:17). The Word can only be alive in your heart if you have allowed it make your heart spiritually tender.

Is your heart spiritually tender? Is the Word alive in you? Is your desire to be in God's will, and do you pray daily for His direction? Proverbs 16:3 (KJV) reads, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Where your thoughts are, so is your heart. Sometimes when you are faced with the need to make a decision, you honestly don’t know what God’s will is. But you must make a decision. Pray for His perfect will in this decision. Remind Him of your love for Him and your faith in Him. Lay your decision on His altar, and commit it to Him. If the decision is made out of the greatest desire to be in His will, He knows the intention of your heart, and faithfully honors your prayer. He will either anoint your decision or change the circumstances so your decision will become as He wishes. He will not fail you.

Perfect Love or My Fear

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18, NIV). 

It is impossible for love and fear to exist beside each other. It is one or the other. Evil may come against me, but love is the powerful force which defeats it.

There is a human love which can be tormented by fear, but there is a perfect love which conquers fear and trusts in God's faithfulness to overcome all that I face.

The only way to obtain this perfect love that conquers fear is to have Christ in my heart. If His love is growing in me, I learn more of His perfect love and its ability to conquer my fears. I can only banish my fears with His presence and His power.

I will pray to Him, and I will seek Him. I will share His love, and dwell on Him instead of my fears. His perfect love and power will rise in my heart until no fear can claim my mind. I will remain strong in His perfect love. One day I will realize that my fear is gone. His perfect love has driven out that which has the power to destroy my life. I have found His peace in the protection of His love.

Run Your Race

Have you ever focused on a runner’s face as he crosses the finish line? In one moment the sacrifice of hard training is surpassed by incredible joy. He has reached his goal. Does he stop at this point? No. Not only must he remain in shape for the next race, but he must train for different hardships the next race presents. To finish the next race he is ready to embrace discipline once more. The joy of accomplishment surpasses the cost of any sacrifice.

Our spiritual lives are the same. Without spiritual training in righteousness we will not know the joy of crossing the finish line. Spiritual training involves throwing off everything that deters us from the goal. We run the race with perseverance when we determine to be pushed to the limit (Hebrews 12:1).

The only way to run the race with endurance is to focus every spiritual muscle upon Jesus Christ. The race began the moment he breathed spiritual life into us, and continues until the finish life of eternal life is reached. The little joys of sacrifice along the way are what carry us to the joy crossing the final finish line brings.

We realize the joy of personal sacrifice when we understand the great cost of His sacrifice. He endured the cross because of the joy that was to come. He endured the pain for the joy of resurrection. Yet in the moment of personal trial we forget He paid the ultimate price, and in the struggle we forget He is there to help us carry the load. We miss the opportunity to grow because our eyes are not fixed upon Him but upon our problem (Hebrews 12:2).

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you are adopted by God as His child. Because He loves you as a heavenly father, God disciplines you and tells you not to lose heart or become discouraged (Hebrews 12:5). When we understand who we are in Christ, we know Him as a loving father who only has our welfare at heart. We know the hardships we face are meant to create a stronger bond with Him, so we look for the lesson in them. (Roman 8:28). God pushes us to the limit for our own welfare, and for no other reason.

This Truth is only discovered when we embrace disciple.

We embrace that which we love. We hold it close to our heart. Such love has the power to hurt terribly or bring incredible joy. If we love Jesus we embrace His training during good and bad times. It means that we understand its eternal value in our lives. We discover incredible spiritual joy when we allow the Lord to reveal the good that comes from a hardship.

Jesus Christ urges us to finish our race, and to finish it well. Often we don’t hear His voice because we are not willing to embrace His discipline. If we really loved Him we would embrace the hardship that comes and hold on to it until the lesson has spurred us to greater faith in Him.

You are running a spiritual marathon. Life is the race. The problems of life pull the breath out of you, but you are seeking the second wind of His Spirit. The Lord runs beside you coaching you on to greater heights. Each pounding step helps you understand a little more of the cost of His sacrifice.

You cannot understand the depths of such a love until you count some of the cost. Embrace the discipline that comes through hardship. Love it for the lesson and training in righteousness that it brings. Look to Him who is the author and the finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the one who carries you through the race of life, and who will complete the good work in you (Philippians 1:6)

A New Heart and Mind

With closed spiritual eyes and ears, many people that morning had never entertained the idea that their pastor’s convicting message was for them. Others had heard the message and were literally unwilling. Afraid of what others might think - disinclined to submit to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, they stood with hands gripping the pew in front of them, not even realizing that they had said “no” to the spirit of God. They were not even aware that the attitude of their hearts had been dictated by human will instead of a Holy Spirit altered heart and mind.

As a believer I am to have an open spirit to what the Lord instructs. I do not have the option to ignore the transformation of the Spirit. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers,” the apostle Paul declared, “in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

My life should be an act of spiritual worship to the Lord who became a living sacrifice for me. Spirit and truth are inseparable. If I worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), I offer a yielded heart to His replenishment. Spiritual transformation is discovered in the renewing of my mind. A willingness to be renewed means that I am ready to admit I am not perfect. It means that I yearn to know his good and perfect will.

“You were taught,” Paul also wrote,” with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4: 23-23). I am also created to be holy as God is holy (I Peter 1:15), but I cannot be like Him until my attitudes and desires are what He wishes.

In repentance I discover God’s desire instead of my own. The reason that repentance is ongoing is because absolute holiness of heart is a goal. When my heart and mind is constantly renewed, repentance creates the ability to put off the old and put on the new. On earth holiness is a goal that is daily discovered. It is the culmination of surrenders which brings me closer to the ultimate goal. In heaven when I stand in the presence of God, holiness shall be a goal completely realized. No longer will I see Him through a glass darkly, but then I shall see Him face to face (I Corinthians 13:12).

Now I live on earth, and seek Him in daily surrenders. To be made new in the attitude of my mind means that my heart must be broken for Him. “I will give you a new heart,” He speaks, “and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Where once my heart was as hard and unyielding as stone now he promises it shall beat with the pulsating blood of His living sacrifice. Where once calloused inner pain held God’s renewal at bay, now I shall be energized by His living presence. A new heart and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit fills me with the desire to keep His laws and commandments- not because they are rules to be followed, but because I love Him above all else. His law shall be my delight, and in every way He shall be my God and I shall belong only to Him (Ezekiel 26: 27-28).

Risking It All

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:12-13, NIV).

Having just left Capernaum, Jesus proceeds on a teaching expedition through Galilee. A leper hides in shadow. Disfigured, dressed in tattered rags, his face covered, Luke writes that the man is covered with leprosy. Leviticus 13 gives explicit directions which ostracizes someone with this infectious disease. Risking stoning or even death, the leper breaks the rule to remain at least four cubits (six feet) from normal people, rushes to Jesus, and falls down with his face in the dirt at his feet. Without raising his head he entreats, “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean.” This determination to come to Jesus and his statement, are testimonials of remarkable faith.

No leper has been healed since Elisha told Naman to wash seven times, and yet Jesus has healed so many incurable diseases. There isn’t a question in the leper’s mind if Jesus can heal, but is he willing? In the leper’s sudden approach, Jesus recognizes the man’s willingness to risk everything. Jesus touches this man whom the law has decreed to be unclean. Proclaiming his willingness to heal him, Jesus pronounces him clean. Skin ravaged by lesions, now suddenly appears clear and unblemished.

This man has risked death in order to seek healing, and his determination has found reward. But not only his determination has made him rush to Jesus. His faith has spoken “if you are willing you can make me clean”. He believes in Jesus Christ enough to risk everything. He has even rushed to Jesus Christ with the question in his head that Jesus might not be willing to heal him. He believes Jesus can heal him, but is he willing?

What a powerful example for us! He had faith enough to believe, and faith enough to risk everything in order to receive. The leper believed that Jesus could heal him, but he asked if he was willing to heal him. He was willing to risk stoning or death even if healing was not in Jesus' will. Do you have this kind of faith? If you step out in faith and risk all, it only makes your faith stronger. Think about this. It is harder for you to step forward with your little mustard seed of questioning faith than it is to rush forward to Jesus believing completely you will be healed. The phrase “if you are willing” reveals a depth of risk that is not found in a faith that believes healing is a sure thing. But it is a risk that guarantees a greater faith. It is a risk that humbly approaches the Savior knowing He has the power to heal, and realizing that the decision to heal or to grant your petition is not yours to make. Just as the leper you are willing to risk all for something you might not receive. And in the risk, the promise is received. The leper persevered and He received (Hebrews 10:35-36).

So what is your greatest need? Are you willing to risk everything? You will discover, just as the leper, that Jesus honors your risk. Because He has already paid the price, He knows the cost of that risk. You rush forward to Him, and He lifts you up in greater faith.