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Living Free: Free From Burdens
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Living Free: Free From Burdens

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 28 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day five with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can live free from the weight of your burdens.

Free From Burdens

“He says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.“
Psalm 81:6-7 (NIV)

What are some things that tend to weigh you down to the point of becoming burdens physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually?  How often do you find the burdens in one area of your life intruding into other areas that you thought were burden-free?  Do you ever find yourself carrying burdens and concerns that you wouldn’t need to?  How often do you gaze into God’s perfect law looking for freedom from the burdens you carry?

Burdens can be sneaky things.  Many times we don’t realize the true weight of the burdens we carry until they are gone . . . or until we collapse under them.  Other times we become resigned to carrying our burdens as if nothing could ever lift them from us.  Many times in my life, the burdens I have carried the longest have been burdens that I have kept even after knowing God has offered to carry them for me.  Gazing into God’s perfect law does give freedom, but only if we are willing to cast our burdens upon Him.  As you pray, ask God to give you freedom from the burdens that you carry.  Pray that you would know God’s laws to be a means of freedom and not burdensome.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free To Be Content
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Living Free: Free To Be Content

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 29 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day four with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, are free to find contentment in God.

Free To Be Content

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’  So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’“
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

How content are you?  Would those closest to you agree with the answer you gave?  Who first comes to mind when you think about contentment?  Do they have everything they want?  Do they have everything you would want?  Is it possible to not have everything you want and still be content?  How would learning to gaze more intently into the perfect law of God bring more contentment into your life?

Through all of my teenage years, I began various projects on the farm that I had hoped would make me my first million dollars.  In case you are wondering, that never happened but the desire stayed alive within me for many years.  In fact, when I published my first book, it was only through gazing into the Word of God that I became convicted of His desire that I share my work as freely as possible.  By freeing myself from the love of money, I found myself free to be content.  As you pray, ask God to help you see the desires within you that keep you from true contentment.  Pray that you would allow God’s laws to free you from the bondage of possessions so that you would be free to live a contented life.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free To Approach God
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Living Free: Free To Approach God

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 30 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day three with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, are free to approach God.

Free To Approach God

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.“
Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

Are there people that you would like to talk with but are afraid to approach them?  Who are some people, or positions, that you would not feel free to approach?  Why?  For you, what tends to make some people more approachable than others?  Do you think people find you easy to approach about anything?  How would believing someone knows everything about you, and loves you beyond measure, influence your willingness to approach them for advice and friendship?

I live with a fear of people.  Not a normal fear of scary people, or bad people, or even unknown people; but an autistic fear of interaction with people.  Some people have a mistrust of people and a similar fear of God that keeps them from feeling free to approach Him.  God has given us His Word so that we may gaze into it in order to find the freedom to approach Him.  As you pray, ask God to help you put aside the hindrances that keep you from freely approaching Him.  Pray that you would know God through His Word in a way that leads you to know Him through relationship.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free From Anguish
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Living Free: Free From Anguish

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 31 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day two with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can live free from anguish.

Free From Anguish

“In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.“
Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

What are some things that tend to concern you to the point of anguish?  Are they issues that are caused by others or yourself . . . or some of both?  At what point in your life does concern or despair lead to anguish?  If you are currently experiencing the distress of anguish, what would it take to free you from it?  How would gazing into the perfect law of God free you from the anguish you experience?  How will you help others once you experience the freedom God promises.

Many times it is in the depths of despair that we learn to cry out to God seeking to be free from the anguish we find our self in.  Life has a way of pressing against us and there are times when we feel as if we are surrounded by enemies that intend to harm us.  As we gaze into the law of God, we find a hope that frees us from the hopelessness that deep anguish brings.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with His hope when everything around you looks hopeless.  Pray that you would look up to Him when you find yourself in the depths of despair.  Pray that your response to being set free would give others hope in their anguish.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free From Accusation
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Living Free: Free From Accusation

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 32 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day one with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you can live free from accusation.

Free From Accusation

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.“
Colossians 1:21-22 (NIV)

Have you ever been accused of something?  How did you respond?  Does having actually done the thing you’re accused of change the way you respond?  How about if it’s something you’ve done but it has already been dealt with?  How do you respond to people who try to bring up things that have already been resolved?   How much freedom do you experience by knowing that anything you are accused of has already been forgiven by God?

While it would be nice to live completely free from accusation, gazing fully into the perfect law of God’s Word and living by it can free us from the power of the accuser.  Accusations are typically powered by guilt on our part, so when we allow God to forgive us and remove our guilt, we find ourselves able to live free from the power of accusations.  As you pray, ask God to help you live according to His Word so that the accuser has no power over you.  Pray that you would know the freedom that comes from living a life that has no need to worry about accusations.  Pray that you would not be an accuser in the lives of others.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Have Been Given Precious Promises
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In Christ: I Have Been Given Precious Promises

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Today completes the thirty-two devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day thirty-two with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have a high priest who understands each one of us.

I Have Been Given Precious Promises

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.“
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

As you consider the previous thirty-one topics in this series, what have been your favorite promises of identity that you have in Christ?  Are there any that surprised you or that you struggle with accepting?  What is the greatest promise a person has made to you?  Have they kept it?  Do you trust God to keep His promises?  What things have you learned through this devotional journey?

We live in a culture where broken promises seem to be as common, maybe even more so, than kept promises.  I am glad that God has shown Himself trustworthy in my life to keep His promises.  I am thankful that in Christ He has given me the precious promises of a new identity and an escape from the consequences of sin.  As you pray, ask God to continually grow your trust in His promises.  Pray that you would understand and value the precious promises you have in Christ.  Pray that you would grasp just how high and wide and deep and great the Father’s love is for those who are in Christ.  Pray that the people around you would come to know the promises of God.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Have an Understanding High Priest
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In Christ: I Have an Understanding High Priest

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 2 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day thirty-one with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have a high priest who understands each one of us.

I Have an Understanding High Priest

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. “
Hebrews 4:14-15 (NIV)

Have you ever been in a situation where someone has represented you before another person?  What important characteristics would you want in a person who did that?  How much would you want them to know and understand about you?  Have you ever been accused of something simply because the accuser had absolutely no understanding of your actions or motives?

If I were to ever find myself in need of legal representation, high on my list of priorities would be to make every effort to find someone who had been in my situation so they would have a greater and more personal understanding.  In Christ we have such a person representing us before God.  As you pray, thank God for supplying His Son to not only represent you, but to live life on earth in a way that you can know He understands you.  Pray for a greater trust in Jesus as your intermediary between you and God.  Pray that the people around you would turn to Jesus as their understanding high priest.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Have a Brother
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In Christ: I Have a Brother

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 3 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day thirty with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have a good, good, big brother.

I Have a Brother

“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.“
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV)

Do you have siblings?  If so, what has your relationship been with them throughout your life?  Do you have people in your life that have become like siblings to you even if they are not blood relatives?  What makes them seem like siblings?  What kind of brother or sister would your family, or the people around you, say you are?  What would you say is the best character trait that a sibling could have?

Having a brother can mean different things to people depending on the relationships they had, or have, within their family.  For me, it means we belong together and we share a common set of values and beliefs even if our faithfulness in practicing them is at different levels.  As you pray, ask God to help you appreciate the family you have in Christ.  Pray that you would value your identity in the family of God.  Pray that you would grow in your faithfulness of practicing the family values and beliefs that are found in Christ.  Pray that the people around you would know that they too could be part of this family and have a brother in Christ.

In prayer,

Tom