Lyrical Friday - Liberty

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I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; 
indeed, I do not even judge myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3 
If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  
who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 
Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 (nlt) 
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all  things. 1 John 3:20 (nkjv) 

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Liberty defined: "Freedom from external or foreign rule; independence. Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction,hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking,speaking, etc., according to choice. Freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint." There is one thing that I know to be true after reading the definition of liberty, and that is that liberty is what the Lord desires for us. Jesus died so that we could be set free from the grip of Hell and sin. He yearns to set us free from our death sentence, the accusations of Satan, the disapproval of people, and the judgments towards ourselves. In His death, He took upon Himself our faults, our failures, our chains, our bondage our penalty. He didn't remain there. Death could not restrain Him for He is mightier than death. In His resurrection we have liberty from all that enslaves us. 

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If we have been set free, why are so many Christians still living as though they are still confined, condemned, chained and bound? I believe we have been captives for so long, that our very identity has been lost and forgotten. When Jesus died and resurrected He did so to save our souls but also to redeem our identity. You are not junk. You are not a mistake. You are not the remains of your past. You are not your faults and failures. You are not a byproduct of society or upbringing. You are not the abuse you experienced. You are not damaged. You are not a lost case. You are not who you say you are. You are not what the world says you are. You are who God created you to be. You have been made with purpose. You are known by God from before the foundations of the earth. Your days have been fashioned before you. You are a child of God. You have a Father who loves you. You are the apple of His eye. You will be made whole because you have already been made new. You have been set free by the love of God, the life of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is your identity. You no longer have to live as a prisoner, condemned and guilt stricken, but set free (even from your own judgement) by His Spirit. I pray that as you listen to and meditate on the lyrics of Liberty by Shane and Shane, that a new work would happen in your heart and mind. He rewrote your name (identity) and unshackled your shame (free to live). Allow Him to open your eyes to these truths. Go on, sing. 

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Liberty, Shane and Shane (with Phil Wickham)

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The Lord is the Spirit 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, now 
There is liberty 
And the Spirit lives inside of me 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, now 
There is liberty, there is liberty, 
There is liberty 
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For freedom You set me free 
And yes, I am free indeed 
You rewrote my name 
And shackled my shame 
You opened my eyes to see 
I am free 
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When the spirit of the world 
Comes to kill me and enslave me I will say 
There is liberty 
For the chains of sin that once entangled me 
Have been broken, now I'm singing 'cause I'm free 
There is liberty, there is liberty, 
There is liberty 
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The storm rolled in 
It was dark in the land 
As the Son of Man 
Was crucified 
You don't take His life 
He laid it down 
He paid the price 
And shed His blood 
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It is done! 
The veil is torn 
He has won 
And I am free 
And I am free 
And I am free 
I am free 

forgiveness

"I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him." - C.S. Lewis

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
 Romans 8:1

Hi dear friends.
I read the C.S.Lewis quote earlier today and boy, did it remind me of how mighty God's grace is but also of how unforgiving we can be towards ourselves. There is no room for guilt and shame in the grand vastness of God's amazing love. It was easy to accept God's forgiveness but I couldn't forgive myself. I had allowed walls to build up in my heart, labeled "guilt". Only when I tore those walls down, after many years, did I forgive myself and fully accept and know God's grace for me. It's still a work in progress that the Lord has promised to complete.

As one who struggles with forgiveness, I can write to you and say: forgive yourself. It is the first step to accepting and knowing the fullness of God's grace. If you have the head knowledge of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and grace yet still struggle to love yourself, be merciful towards yourself, forgive yourself and accept God's grace; I urge you today:
tear
the
walls
down.

I don't know what your yesterday looks like. I don't know if you feel so worthless that you doubt God's grace for you. I don't even know if you believe that God can forgive your sins. But one thing I do know, God's unchanging character: [Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 3:13]

God's Grace is FOR YOU! Yes, You!
That's the greatness of God. It doesn't matter how ugly, icky, deep, wrong, dark, vicious, demonic, brutal, psychotic or small your sin may be, it is still sin and God is still God. He will forgive and make grace abound to you. Ask Him today, this very moment, to help you forgive yourself and accept His grace.

Beloved reader, if you were a victim of any wrong doing or violation to you, God's grace is FOR YOU! Yes, You! There is a promise in God's Word that I want you to hold on to, engrave it in your heart and mind: [So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. Joel 2:25] Lord, Your Word says it, we believe it, now do it! Ask Him today, this very moment, to restore what has been taken: your worth and value, to help you forgive the other person(s), to forgive yourself and accept God's grace.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free
and discover that the prisoner was you." -Lewis B. Smedes

Lyrical Friday- Shadowfeet

HAPPY FRIDAY!
I hope you are doing well.

This week's Lyrical Friday is Shadowfeet by Brooke Fraser. These lyrics remind me that I am a new person in Christ (My past is not who I am and it does not determine my future). I  am reminded that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, who strengthens you. I am no longer gripped by fear, shame, guilt and worry.I can stand firm in the midst of uncertainty because I am found in Him who calms the raging seas.

May you be clothed with strength and dignity, and may you laugh without fear of the future as you are found in Him... still standing.

Shadowfeet, Brooke Fraser


Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home, a land that i've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you