Shackled

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June 7
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
Psalm 31:4

Do you have tools in your home/garage/kitchen which you rarely utilize?  Maybe you think they are too much trouble to get out or put together.  My husband bought a new power trimmer for our trees, but he has not used it because he has not wanted to take the time to put it together, so the other day he was sawing away with the manual saw. 
Our son and his wife suggested we purchase a lovely grater/mincer from Williams Sonoma for Christmas.  We purchased it, but I'm still hand mincing garlic and even used a knife and scissors the other day to grate lemon peel, because I didn't want to take the time to wash the new gadget.

We have this amazing tool for our faith...it is time in the word and listening prayer. So often we don't want to take the time to stop and be with God and seek his direction to be set free from our burdens.

In Priscilla Shirer's study, One in a Million, she tells the story of how a baby elephant is shackled early on to teach it to not escape.  As it grows larger, it does not recognize it's strength and if that shackle is on it stays confined.  What is it you need to be set free from?  Fear, bitterness, jealous, addictions, gossip, doubt?  Remember right now the reason Jesus came....to set WE captives free.  Choose today to unlock the shackles that are holding you back from experiencing joy in Christ.

...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses, knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

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