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Are you tired, defeated, or lacking motivation? Do you feel like you’re losing your way in life?
At some point, if not many, in a person’s life, these questions are posed in some shape, form, or fashion in the context of our lives. And if we don’t vocalize them, then they certainly pass through our minds, whether a fleeting thought or an extended stay.
But no matter where you might find yourself wrestling with these and many other questions, know that there is hope.
Let me share a story with you. I have a friend who owns a fitness center in Austin, Texas. As a certified coach and trainer, he too subscribes to and fully understands that true transformation begins with strengthening the mind. Through his training, he witnesses incredible changes in his clients, not just physically but in all aspects of their lives.
Something remarkable happens with each client time after time — a shift occurs that brings newfound freedom and produces abundant goodness. And this shouldn’t surprise us, no not all.
Why? Well, because God designed us, yes, even you, to live in freedom. Hear me out though.
As goes with most of life, transformations don’t come without obstacles. In his work with clients, my friend encounters the following common challenges while on their transformative journey to health and wellness in all areas of life:
- Defeated attitudes.
- Lack of energy and motivation.
- Feelings of incapability, both physically and spiritually.
- Overwhelmed by daily obligations and responsibilities.
But take heart in this moment, if you’re reading this and this is you, and know this:
When your identity is rooted in Christ Jesus, you can overcome any life obstacle you face. Use your freedom in Him to cultivate noble, uplifting, and pure thoughts based on the truth of His sacrificial love on the cross for everyone — setting us free while putting sin and death in bondage for good. Align your heart, soul, mind, and strength in Christ Jesus. This is where true transformation begins to walk and live a life of freedom.
Now, let’s explore how you can embrace your freedom and be empowered by the Holy Spirit daily to overcome life’s obstacles instead of exchanging them for a life of bondage.
Firstly, realize that you are free. Galatians 5:13 states that you have been called to freedom by Christ Jesus Himself. Through His life, you were set free from guilt, shame, condemnation, and most importantly, sin. However, this good news of Jesus and the freedom we find in Him doesn’t always mean we are without consequences from our past.
Galatians 5:13 also tells us that we are not free to live as we please because we are not our own. As children of God, set free by Jesus Christ, we are called to humbly serve and love others as we love ourselves, and above all, to love God with all our being.
When we make ourselves or anything else our god, inevitably, we lose our way in life. We become defeated, lacking energy and motivation, and trapped in self-inflicted bondage of our sins that completely robs us both physically and spiritually from living the full life that we’re promised in Jesus.
So, why do we allow this to happen? It’s because we choose to define freedom according to our own desires instead of embracing the freedom God offers us in Galatians 5:13-25 — living by not our fleshly desires (19-21), but the desires, the fruit of the Holy Spirit (verses 22-25).
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
We can best serve others when we ourselves walk in the freedom rooted in Christ Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Bible encourages us to renew our minds daily through reading, praying, and applying its words to our lives.
By doing so, we stay centered, operating in the space of freedom as God designed and intended. And when we fully embrace and utilize the freedom we have in Christ, it brings about life-changing effects not only in our own lives but also in the lives of those around us — where we work, live, and play.
So, I encourage you to be set free, living in the freedom of an abundant life that serves and loves God, loves yourself, and loves others as yourself. As you embark on this journey, here are some practical applications and reflections to guide you:
Practical Next Steps to Find Freedom:
- Seek God’s guidance: Spend time in prayer and meditation, seeking God’s wisdom and guidance in every aspect of your life. Surrender your plans and desires to Him, allowing Him to shift your perspective and direct your steps.
- Embrace gratitude: Cultivate a heart of gratitude by intentionally acknowledging the blessings in your life. Even in challenging circumstances, find reasons to be thankful and let gratitude shape your perspective.
- Serve with love: Look for opportunities to humbly serve others, both within and outside your community. Serve with a genuine heart, reflecting the love of Christ in all your actions and interactions.
Reflection Questions:
- In what areas of your life do you feel bound by self-inflicted limitations? How can you surrender those areas to God and embrace the freedom He offers to transform your perspective?
- Are there any obstacles or defeated attitudes that hinder you from experiencing the fullness of God’s freedom? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to overcome them?
- How can you practically integrate daily practices of renewing your mind through reading, praying, and applying God’s Word? What specific steps can you take to ensure that your mind remains centered on His truth?
- Are there specific ways you can serve and love others, both in your immediate circle and in your community? How can you align your actions with the freedom found in Christ Jesus?
Let’s Prayer Together:
Dear God, thank you for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. Help us to fully embrace and live in this freedom, allowing it to transform every aspect of our lives that brings You ultimate glory. Grant us the strength to overcome obstacles and the humility to serve and love others well. Renew our minds daily through Your Word, and may we be a reflection of Your grace and goodness to the world around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
May you walk in the freedom that Christ has provided, experiencing His transformative power in your life and becoming a source of blessing and inspiration to those you encounter.
Alvin Brown, the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Fort Worth, brings over a decade of pastoral ministry experience and more than 20 years of operational and technical leadership expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Mallary, and their three children and contributing as a writer to various media outlets.