Freedom. You would think it comes without burdens. Nevertheless, it does have a cost… for some others.
Here you are, you are doing it! You love God, have an active and full life. You have a stable job, good credit, a home with a low interest mortgage and driving your dream whip. You and your Bae just got married or celebrated your 25 anniversary, you’re traveling and posting on Insta from all over the world and you don’t seem to have a care in the world.
So here come your haters, detractors, naysayers and nitpickers.
Living your life of freedom shows some people just how much they live their lives in a prison of darkness from their own making. Their response to you living your best life is to try to ridicule you, tear down what you do and make you go back to a place that makes THEM comfortable. “Why y’all have to travel so much? Don’t you ever stay at home?” “I couldn’t have a house this big, it’s too much to keep clean.” “Well I hope you don’t think he’s being faithful to you. You know men that look like that are just dogs…”
Though it may be subconsciously done, their jealousy and envy is a REACTION to your FREEDOM. They’re reacting that way because, in their minds, you are no better than them. Under the same circumstances and conditions, with the same resources, they didn’t think to or have the courage to do what you’re doing now, so it exposes THEIR flaws and shortcomings. When that happens, when a person’s flaws are exposed, their true heart is shown, even when they think nobody can see it.
Remember: God gave us all the Light. It’s up to us whether we choose to hide from it or shine in it.
Walking in freedom can provoke other people into action. The freedom of one person can mean liberty for some or it can mean darkness and defeat for others. Those that choose to channel that energy in a positive way will say “I can do that too!”. They will take your freedom as a key to unlock their own freedom. They that take your walking in freedom as a reminder of their own regret, disappointment and fears will let jealousy and disappointment direct their mouths to say negative things about you. Although it may feel personal, it really isn’t about you. It’s all about them.
2 Corinthians 3: 16-18 in the Message Bible says in part: “… God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” When you allow yourself to see God, His Spirit is not going to allow you to conform to the old ways of doing and thinking any longer. You will walk in authority, dominion, victory and freedom because ordinary just won’t do. Your freedom is a gift. You’ve come out of darkness into the marvelous Light and even a slither of darkness won’t do for you. You’ve taken the life given to you and you are living it more abundantly. Don’t allow the petty, fool-hardy ways of a few haters stop your life from becoming “brighter and more beautiful”. If your freedom on the outside looks like bars of darkness to them, it’s not your responsibility to take them out of that prison. Let me repeat that for those in the back: IT ISN’T YOUR DUTY to free them. It’s your obligation to tell them about the One, Jesus Christ, who unlocked you and gave you the keys to freedom.
When your freedom might look like somebody else’s darkness don’t be surprised, dismayed or even angered by their actions and reactions. First, pray for them. They need to be set free just like you were. They can’t see beyond their own hurt, pain and disappointments. Next, encourage them. Tell them, “If I can do it, you can do it”. God is no respecter of persons. Finally show them. Keep walking in your freedom and don’t allow anyone to stop you from being an example of God’s power to remove burdens and release yokes. You keep doing you and allow freedom to ring all around you. Remember: God gave us all the Light. It’s up to us whether we choose to hide from it or shine in it.
© 2019 ANDREA NANCILLE JACKSON/GLOBAL GIRL MINISTRIES
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