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Sunday, March 7, 2010

break free from those chains of bondage

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which
Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
(Galatians 5:1)

When elephants are being trained in the circus, they are chained and shackled to a stake when they are just babies. The chains are strong enough at that point to restrain them and keep them from breaking free. As they pull and tug on the chain to no avail, they soon learn that their efforts are futile and soon they don't resist the chains as much.

As they grow bigger and stronger, the chains and shackles don't have to be exchanged for more powerful ones. The elephants have grown so used to the chains holding them, that they just assume that they can't escape and therefore they don't even try.

Do we live like that at times? Are we letting the chains and shackles of this world tether us so tightly to those areas of sin and strongholds in our lives, that we have ceased to even tug and pull on them in any attempt to break free?

Have we grown so comfortable in our bondage that we are living defeated and hopeless lives?

Oh, my sweet friends, I think the answer to those questions is a resounding "yes!". I think that we have grown so accustomed to our chained-up state that we just sit back and remain shackled to sin.

Why do we choose to live as captives when we have been given the glorious key to freedom?  As Christians, our battle has already been fought and won for us. Our state of bondage was overcome on the Cross at Calvary.

God freed us from the chains of sin and gave us  Hope through the shed blood of His Son.  When Jesus gave up His life for us, the sacrifice He made was to atone for our sins forever. Those chains of bondage were broken that day and we were given the ability to live victoriously through Jesus.

Whatever is holding you hostage and is binding you up in those chains, isn't worth it.  Whatever is defeating you, burdening you and weighing you down, is keeping you from living in the freedom of a life of Hope and Victory. You will be forever tethered to that dismal and defeated existence unless you allow God to remove the chains so you can be set free!

Oh, my friends, surrender it to Him and let Him loosen those shackles so they fall off. Confess it and lay it at His feet. Repent of it and arise from there washed anew with His mercy and grace. Free from those chains of captivity. Under bondage no more!

Praise You, Jesus. Praise You, that we have the ability to live a life of freedom. We can walk in victory. We have hope. We can be loosed from the things that bind us and experience the true, abundant life that you intend for us.

Oh, Lord help us to walk in the Spirit. Help us to walk in your ways, obey your commandments and be free from the bondage of the world. Thank you, Lord, the because of Your Son, we can be set free from sin and the ties that bind us. We can live in the freedom and victory of a life in Christ.

"And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness"
(Romans 6:18)





Beth

16 comments:

Tammy said...

What a great post on the how sin can hold us in one place. For years I had a love/hate relationship with my strongholds.

But now I have a love relationship with Christ!!!!

love and hugs~Tammy

Yolanda said...

Totally agree.

With love,
Yolanda

Amy Prikazsky said...

Great post! I completely agree with you...We often forget what freedom is and that we can experience it!

amy[www.theprikazskys.com]

ilovepink1078 said...

Great post! Thanks for sharing with us...

God bless!
http://uchsmapeh.blogspot.com/

Jackie said...

This is a wonderful post and I totally agree with you!

Thank you Jesus for coming to set the captive free!!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie

Sherry said...

What a powerful post and full of truth!

Blessings,
Sherry

Unknown said...

Lady! You have a way with words! I can remember many times when I was the "chained elephant' claiming defeat. I must remember that with God there is always victory! Thank you for encouraging me!

TRUTH SHARER said...

We are studying Galatians in my Sunday night group and our "freedom in Christ" is something that God is showing me that I am living in with JOY! I think I finally recognize that freedom for what it was intended to be! It sets my heart free to love God with all my heart and to love others with His heart!

Loved this!

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Ella said...

Beth ~~
Awesome post....Who the Son sets free! HE is free indeed!
Hugs, GG

Connie Arnold said...

Thank you for the wonderfully encouraging and uplifting post, Beth! It has such a vital message that you share in a beautiful way.

Anonymous said...

His mercies never fail. Laying myself at His feet is a daily task. Freedom is His gift for which I am so grateful.
Loving you, ~ linda

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I remember Priscilla Shirer talking about this in her study "One in a Million". That image of the baby elephants maturing into adults with all the strength and power of a giant, yet refusing to walk free from the perimeter of their gates.

Such a vivid reminder to us that we've been given mighty strength and power and everything necessary to live free from our chains. Problem is, most of us don't realize it or, further still, don't access it!

Remembering tonight the strength of my God. He is awesome and has a mighty strong arm! Praise God!

peace~elaine

LisaShaw said...

Your words always drip with the love and heart of Christ. Break free of those chains of bondage indeed. Jesus has set us free and we must walk in that freedom. I'm thankful that He set me free and at times there are areas that try to pull on me but I remind myself in Whom I believe and to Whom I belong...JESUS! His blood has set me free.

I love you dear sister. Keep speaking, writing and LIVING CHRIST!!!

Nana Jul said...

Remind us Lord of who you say we are. Help us to practice being who you say we are.
Thank you Beth for the beautiful post!
Love
Julie

Patrinas Pencil said...

Take the shackles ofmy feet so I can dance ...I just want to Praise Him. ...this post reminds me of this song!

You do what you do so well, Beth. His heart shines forth in you. Thank you for your honest truth and for enocouraging us to be all that God has intended for us!

Blessings
Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall

Dontmissyoursunsetlady said...

Oh Beth I hope one day, I am half the woman of God you are! Thanks for the encouragement! I admit that while I love your post I admit sometimes even as a Christian, that freedom seems to good to be true, but I know it isn't.