The challenge of finding true freedom

God's goal is to have you be the person that God created you to be.

While that will happen when you reach heaven, God's desire is that you’d begin to experience that now.

You don’t have to wait until you pass from this earth to be authentic. 

There is nothing holding God back from accomplishing this. It’s up to you.

How much of your true self do you want to explore and see come to life? How much of your true self will you let out? How deep will you trust God? How deep will you let God's love go? How strongly do you want to replace fear as a motivation for living?

God isn't looking for a second-rate version of yourself! God's not satisfied with you going through life being half-filled and God won’t give up on you.

God wants you to understand this. 

The Creator of the Universe didn’t save you from something, You were saved into something.

Many followers of God's Son don’t understand the depth of this truth.

God didn’t save you so you wouldn't limp. You were saved so that you could run.

Freedom.

In American culture that’s at the heart of everything, isn’t it?

Freedom of choice. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. Freedom.

But a person who isn’t their truest self isn’t free.

There is no freedom in fulfilling other people’s expectations. 

There is no freedom in kowtowing to the status quo. 

There is no freedom in being caught up in the politics of the day. 

There is no freedom in blindly following after material success.

The US national anthem contains the refrain: “...land of the free and the home of the brave.”

But how free are you when you allow what others think to dictate your actions? 

How brave are you when you stand silent in response to racism, sexual inequality and other forms of social injustice?

Where is freedom found?

Many people think freedom is found in following their feelings. Or financial security. Or material possessions. Or power. But none of these things bring freedom. 

In fact every one of these things can be a ball-and-chain wrapped tight around your spirit. Squelching the life out of you.

Freedom is found in service to others. 

Freedom is found in loving unconditionally. 

Freedom is found in loving your neighbor as yourself. 

Freedom is found in opening the borders of your heart to let others in.

This day I challenge us all to embrace true freedom.

To find out what it is and to go after it!

Take a moment to answer this question: True freedom, for me, is...

Photo credit: www.jewishlearningworks.org