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Learning Freedom

At the top of 2023, I started on a journey of intentional healing. It's been a year of purposeful self-discovery, where I've deliberately targeted the broken and cracked parts of me. This journey has involved a combination of journaling, prayer, spiritual guidance, and therapy. The effort has been anything but in vain, for God has faithfully kept His promise, as He always does. I sought Him in a new area of my life and He met me there. Just as Matthew 7:7 assures us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you."


Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, I've transitioned to a new space. What once felt like an unconquerable mountain has transformed into a hill I now feel better equipped to climb. In this process of healing, God has been steadily releasing me from the chains of past traumas. He's been teaching me not only what needs healing within me but also how to surrender to His healing touch. And now, He's unveiling a new lesson for me: Freedom.

Imagine it like this - It's as if I once viewed life through a narrow camera lens, capturing only a limited, constricted frame of reality. In that confined space, I saw only a fraction of what was truly there, much like a photograph missing the grandness of an extended landscape.


But now, God has expanded my perspective. He has gifted me with a more open view, like switching to a wide-angle lens that captures the whole scene. The self-prescribed limitations that once held me back have been shattered, revealing a world of possibilities that were previously hidden. It's like standing on a mountaintop and gazing out at a breathtaking skyline, where every detail, every color, and every element comes into view. The chains that once bound me to my past have been broken, and now I stand in a space of newfound liberty and understanding.


Now that I can see more and have more space to live free, I find myself at the edge of a new and unknown territory. It's like stepping into a vibrant, untouched wilderness after being confined within the same familiar walls for so long.


Freedom is not just a destination but a path to be walked, a lesson to be learned. The truth is, this newfound freedom is a space I've never truly experienced before. When we were bound by comparison, loneliness, low self-esteem, and self-condemnation, we knew how to live in those spaces. After years of living in that restricted space, those struggles became our norm. We became accustomed to the limitations we placed upon ourselves. I made a habit of shrinking. I made it a habit to believe that I was not good enough, incapable, introverted, and better off silent. God revealed those thoughts as lies meant to stop me from stepping into who He created me to be.


John 8:32 tells us: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Now that I know those thoughts were lies, I am learning to live in the newfound truth Christ has revealed to me. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, God is gradually revealing the raw, authentic me. The journey was challenging, and it still is. I've met the free Rashida, and I'm learning to recognize her, to embrace her. I'm still in the process of discovering the nuances of living unencumbered by the weight of my past. I'm still uncovering the depths of who I am meant to be.


Think of it as learning a new language - a language of freedom. The words we used to speak were laced with self-doubt and limitation. Now, we're in the process of relearning, of fluently expressing ourselves in the vocabulary of confidence and purpose.


The journey continues, and I am still learning. I needed God to free me from my past bondage, and now I need Him to teach me how to live in my present freedom. It's a process of daily renewal, a journey of unlearning old patterns and embracing new possibilities. With each step, I'm growing more comfortable in this new skin, in this newfound sense of self, in this expansive realm of freedom.


Freedom is not just something to experience, but it's also a concept to be understood, embraced, and embodied. The lies have been exposed, but the habits that kept us bound may still linger. The habit of shrinking is gradually being transformed into confidently taking up space. The negative thoughts we once believed are being overwritten by the truth of God's word.


As we discover what it’s like to live in this new freedom, it's important to define what it looks like from the perspective of God's Word. His teachings provide a roadmap to a liberated life. God has already laid out for us in His word many lessons on learning how to be free.


Freedom through God's Word: Psalm 119:45 - "I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts."

  • Studying God's teachings sets us free to live in His truth

Freedom from Fear: 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment."

  • In God's love, fear loses its grip, and we gain strength, wisdom, and freedom.

Freedom from Sin's Slavery: Romans 6:6 - "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin."

  • When our old self is crucified with Christ, we break free from the power of sin.

Freedom to Love and Serve: Galatians 5:13 - "For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love."

  • Our freedom lets us love and serve others selflessly.

Freedom from Condemnation in Christ: Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus."

  • In Christ, there is no judgment or condemnation, only freedom and grace.

God's Forgiveness and Freedom: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

  • God's forgiveness cleanses us and gives us a fresh start.

Freedom from Guilt: Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

  • God's forgiveness removes our guilt completely, leaving us free from its burden.

The growth journey of a believer never stops. Just because I'm not where I used to be doesn't mean I should relax where I currently am. There is still more God desires to reveal, more places He longs to take us. This journey is an ongoing exploration, a journey into the vastness of God's grace. And just as God is teaching me how to be free, He has more in store for you on your own journey with Him.

There is no shame in needing God to teach you even after He has freed you. There is no shame in seeking His guidance in learning what it means to be free. There's nothing we can't ask God. In fact, James 1:5 reminds us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him." So, as we continue on this path of discovery, let's remember that God's wisdom and guidance are readily available. Embrace the process, learn from each step, and continue to embrace the boundless freedom He offers.
 

PRAY WITH ME

Heavenly Father, we offer our gratitude today. Thank you for keeping your promises and leading us from darkness into your marvelous light. Your faithfulness and kindness have brought us to this point on our journey and led us to freedom. As we continue to learn and grow, we ask for your wisdom and direction. May we remain humble and always seek your guidance, no matter how far we progress from our starting point. Father help us to always remember that there is no shame in seeking your help in understanding and living in the freedom you've given us. You've broken the shackles of our past, we have history with You. We know you can and will continue to lead us on the journey of discovering who we are in this new space of freedom

In Jesus name, amen.

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