Breaking Free from Bondage, how we cultivate a prison of our own device….or rather vices.
I’ve only been to prison once, and it was my idea to go there. A few years back my hubby helped me to check a bucket list item off by taking me to San Francisco mainly to visit Alcatraz, for my birthday. It was my 33rd birthday, and I found out Al Capone went there when he was 33 too. Although, I don’t think it was a bucket list item for him.
Many of us operate in free society, outside prison bars that is. What I’m realizing is that many of us are still living in bondage, even believers in Christ. Did Jesus offer us redemption for our sins if we confess them and humbly accept Him as our Lord and Savior? Yes! Then why do I feel so anxious, depressed, overwhelmed? Where is this gentle and light yoke Jesus talked about in Matthew 11:29?
What type of “Vices” allowing to imprison us?
Anything you turn to instead of God or that you find your identity in, simply put. That being said these things aren’t all bad things, some of them can start as good things like:
- Wise Money Management
- Living a healthy life (diet/exercise)
- Serving at Church
- Career Aspirations
- Marriage or Parenting
- Maintaining a Good Reputation
- Politics
There can also be sinful ones that go unconfessed:
- Greed
- Selfish Ambitions
- Prideful Self Image
- Pride
- Substance Dependency (Drugs, Alcohol, Food, Shopping etc)
- Pornography/Lust
- Untruthfulness
- Self Dependency
- Anger
Just to name a few.
When Sin and Good things begin to entrap us
Let’s talk about the sinful ones first. Sin is sin and the Bible is very clear, that if we confess these things Jesus is faithful to forgive us. We must recognize and confess. Otherwise these already ugly things will continue to chain us and imprison us to them.
What about the seemingly good things? When your quest to achieve a status wether that be societal, financial, health, ministry or political begins to supersede your dependency on God. The problem is all of these things “good” things make terrible gods. They will disappoint you and fail to fulfill you in the way you expect, they will always demand and beckon you on a bit further. They will never give you the peace they promise.
Like Peter stepping out of the boat towards Jesus then looking at the waves and starting to sink. This is what happens when we allow good or sinful things to satisfy us, when we defend them and make excuses for them but know deep down they are continuing to chain us down.
How do we allow Jesus to free us and give us peace?
I admit this subject is massive and we could never in one blog post, podcast or book unwrap all the Bible has to offer on this subject. What I can tell you is staying in God’s Word, making a life study of His character and characteristics is a great start. The Bible says:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Staying humble and pursuing His heart. Holding the things of this world loosely, and listening for conviction. Being ready for repentance.
Realizing our Salvation has nothing to do with how well we manage our money, or how high we climb the corporate ladder. If our bodies are good in our eyes or we are eating all the good things or have the cutest clothes and make the best reels with the always moving goal of followers and engagement on social media. Serving the most at church, giving the best advice, being the best spouse, parent or shining star in your community who routinely save runaway strollers and helps the elderly across the street.
You might say, “Of course I know this, my identity is in Christ!”. If you aren’t experiencing His peace amidst life’s storms. If achieving the thing plagues your thoughts and motives, if you are anxious and depressed even when you know there isn’t a reason to be, you might be in bondage.
These things can and will become a prison if you let them. It might be one you kinda like, maybe you want to stay a while and decorate? On Episode 65 of The Real House Wives of the Kingdom Podcast I’m starting to touch on this very painful subject. So tell me, are you ready to break free from bondage and the prison of your own “vices’? Give it a listen.
You can read about or listen to my testimony here
