Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2, James 5:16

Freedom in Community 

It’s hard to imagine confessing our most secret sin to someone else. But it’s likely harder to imagine walking through life—and struggling with that secret sin—with no one to help us. From the very beginning, God created us for community. He declared that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18) and throughout Scripture encouraged community. 

Part of being in community is confession. We tend to cringe when we hear that word—and for good reason. It’s much more comfortable to keep things tucked away in the dark. But hiding our sin from others only isolates us in shame and discouragement as we struggle alone. And that is exactly where Satan wants us—alone. That is when we are most vulnerable to temptation. When we give in to temptation, it perpetuates the cycle of shame, and we resolve even more to keep our sin hidden. 

However, freedom comes in the light. When we confess our sin to God and to others, it is no longer hidden in the shadows. Once in the light, it can be dealt with. Although we often think of community as a large group of people, at least at first, it might just be one or two close friends whom you can trust with your hurt and shame. Scripture tells us that “two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). This is a beautiful picture of what life is like in loving community. When we fall, there is someone to help us up, dust us off, and walk alongside us on our journey to freedom. 

Pray With Me

Lord, give me the boldness to confess my struggles and shame with someone else. Help me to encourage others in the same way, so that together we can move forward in freedom and relationship with You. Amen.

Scriptures: Genesis 2:16-17, Philippians 4:8, Psalms 19:7-11

Freedom in Boundaries 

Since childhood, we have been pushing against the boundaries. Of course, as we’ve grown older, we’ve been able to recognize the importance of those childhood boundaries—we even establish them for our own children. They are meant for safety and are created out of love. So why is it so difficult for us to accept the boundaries God places in our lives as adults? 

Part of the reason is that Satan has convinced us that freedom means no boundaries, no rules. We’re truly free when no one is telling us what to do. But life experience and the Holy Spirit tell us differently. Scripture is filled with boundaries God has given His people—and that is a good thing! He doesn’t come up with boundaries willy-nilly just to kill our fun. Like the good Father that He is, He creates those boundaries for our good. He creates them out of love. As with the Ten Commandments, those boundaries might sound like a bunch of rules. Or they might seem like “good behavior,” telling us to think about things that are honorable, just, pure, and lovely (Philippians 4:8). But as we grow in our relationship with God and learn to trust His goodness, we will see these boundaries as more than just rules to follow and ways to act. We will recognize them as perfect, sure, and right, as sweeter than honey and more desired than gold (Psalms 19:7-11). Within the safety of these boundaries we have freedom—the freedom to move about and live and love. May we, like David declare that “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” (Psalms 16:6). 

Pray With Me

Lord, help me to see Your boundaries as lovingly created for my good. Help me to recognize Satan’s lies when he tries to convince me that there is freedom apart from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Psalms 73:26, Matthew 11:28, Matthew 26:41

Freedom In Weakness 

We live in a world where strength is admired. No one wants to be weak. No one wants to be seen as incompetent. But in the kingdom of God, it is weakness that is valued. Throughout the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament, we are told again and again that it’s okay to be weak. Still, this truth is difficult to accept—especially since it goes against everything our culture tells us. But isn’t that what the Kingdom of God is about? 

Perhaps in your journey toward freedom, you are struggling with the realization that you just can’t overcome your sin on your own. You’re too weak. While that may not be where you want to be, that’s exactly where God wants you! When we realize just how weak we are, we can finally surrender to Him. And we are told that His “grace is sufficient” and His “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Jesus tells us in Matthew, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This is certainly how it often feels when it comes to sin. We don’t want to sin–our spirit is willing to follow God’s commands. We recognize the good that comes from obeying God. We might even be aware of potential consequences if we do not obey. However, our flesh is weak, and too often we find ourselves once again living with shame over another failed attempt at obedience. 

But there is freedom in our weakness. When we surrender to God and trust in His promises, we can experience freedom and let go of the constant striving. This requires knowing His Word. We must spend time with Him. When we want to strengthen our bodies, we eat food for nourishment. Likewise, to become spiritually strong, we must fill ourselves on the Bread of Life. When we are weary, He will give us rest. He will be our strength. 

Pray With Me

Lord, help me to come to You when I feel weak. Remind me of Your promises and that I don’t have to do this all on my own. You are with me and Your grace is sufficient. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures: Ephesians 3:12, John 21, 2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12

Freedom in Restoration 

It would be tough to find two people in Scripture more in need of restoration with God than Peter and David. Most of us are very aware of the worst moments in these men’s lives. After walking with Jesus for several years and becoming one of His best friends, Peter ran away and denied Jesus during His most difficult time. David, God’s anointed, lusted after a woman, committed adultery with her, and then murdered her husband to cover up his sin. There was certainly a period when both men felt distant from God. 

Thankfully, God’s desire is redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. Before Peter even asked for forgiveness and restoration, Jesus had already offered it. Imagine Peter’s surprise and deep relief around the campfire when Jesus spoke to him as a friend and let him know he still had a purpose in the Kingdom. What freedom Peter must have felt! 

Perhaps we are like David—one sin leads to another and then another until we are working and scheming to cover it up. But the need for restoration isn’t just for when we get caught. Any sin is a sin against God and hurts our relationship with Him. He longs for restoration with us, if only we are willing to accept His offer. When confronted with his sin, David declared that he had sinned against God. Though he had to face the consequences of his sin, he repented and had freedom in being in right relationship with God once again. 

We will never completely overcome sin during this life, but Jesus has defeated sin and death. When we come to Him in surrender and repentance, He will set us free and we will be free indeed (John 8:36). 

Pray With Me

God, thank You for the gift of restoration. Show me any area where I need to repent and turn back to You. Thank You for the promise of freedom in You. Amen.

Scriptures: Genesis 3:9, Luke 15

Freedom in Being Found 

As children, we played hide-and-seek. The whole point was to hide well enough to not be found. Sometimes, we weren’t even playing—maybe we disobeyed and knew we’d be in big trouble, so we hid. As adults, we still hide. We hide behind perfect houses, cute kids, smiling faces—all while keeping certain things in the dark. It’s too overwhelming to think of anyone finding out our shameful secrets. 

Humans have been trying to hide since the fall. It’s difficult to imagine a time when people did not feel shame or want to hide. But after the first sin in the garden, things changed. In their shame, Adam and Eve hid from God (You know we can’t hide from God, right?). However, God’s first recorded act after they sinned was to seek them out. 

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus shares a trio of parables about lost things being found. He starts with the parable of the lost sheep, telling about a shepherd who leaves his flock to look for the one missing sheep. In the parable of the lost coin, the woman searches her house carefully until she finds her coin. And in the parable of the lost son, the father is watching and waiting, and “while [the son] was a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). All three parables end with a celebration over the lost being found. 

It’s so important for us to realize that if we are being sought after it’s because we have immense value to the One seeking us. We may want to hide in shame and fear, but there is such freedom in being found. In being known. God desires a relationship with us and He has already taken the first step in seeking us. We just have to allow ourselves to be found. 

Pray With Me

Lord, thank You for Your offer of security and freedom. Help me to trust You and Your goodness, even when I want to hide. In Jesus’ name, amen.