Unbroken FocusSample

DAY 3: UNBROKEN FREEDOM 5 “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 (NIV) In today’s devotional, we are going to focus on unbroken freedom. Your freedom is vital to your focus. It’s hard to maintain your focus when toxic thoughts, patterns, and people constantly bind your mind. Galatians 5 reminds us that Christ has already set us free and encourages us to STAND FIRM and never go back to a yoke of bondage. Because of what Christ did on the cross, we are now liberated to live a life free from the authority of sin. I always like to say that being a child of God is not about what you can’t do but more about what you no longer must do. If the enemy can get you to focus on your limitations, he can blind you from seeing the liberty you have in Christ Jesus. Now that I’m a child of God, I don’t have to surrender to lust, toxic relationships, addictions, pornography, or pride. The challenge isn’t obtaining freedom; the challenge is maintaining freedom. The phrase “stand firm” leaped off the pages to me. If I had a subtopic for today’s devotional, it would be “firm freedom.” Paul wants us to understand that our freedom must be firm if we’re going to maintain it. To maintain our freedom, we must identify ourselves as free. Galatians 5:1 says that it was FOR FREEDOM that Christ has SET US FREE. The word “set” also means to place or position, which means Christ has placed and positioned us to be free. In other words, Christ made us free to walk in freedom. We must understand that freedom is not just what you have; it’s who you are. Realizing this truth, I was compelled to ask myself, “Why do we have so many free people surrendering to the bondage of sin?” And the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “People aren’t choosing sin because they’re not free from it; people choose to sin because they’re familiar with it.” As humans, sin is in our nature, and we are very familiar with it. We are naturally attracted to familiarity because it provides predictability and comfort. Although something may not be healthy for us, we’re likely to continue to indulge in it because it’s familiar to us. Therefore, you must be careful with what you become familiar with. So many people stay in toxic and unhealthy relationships because toxicity is familiar and a healthy relationship is foreign. We have so many people staying in bondage, tolerating abuse and lowering their standards because they fear the unknown of freedom. This shows why UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP with Jesus is so important because the more you fellowship with Him, the more familiar you become with Him. When you become familiar with Jesus, you will begin to want what He wants, love what He loves, show mercy like He shows mercy, and forgive as He forgives. Our decisions are heavily influenced by what we are familiar with. Familiarity with Christ will increase your chances of choosing Him in moments of struggle. In this season, God wants us to get familiar with our freedom and become foreign to these old habits, patterns, and behaviors. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The phrase “become new” is the key that makes this verse come alive in your life. The word “become” insinuates the process. Being new in Christ doesn’t happen instantly; it’s a process, a path, and a journey. Christ gives us the grace to become foreign to sin and familiar with freedom. Before we pray, I encourage you to be FIRM in your freedom. Just because we’re no longer under the authority of sin doesn’t mean we don’t still have a desire for it. Remember, freedom ends the bondage, not the battles. STAND FIRM and FIGHT for your freedom. LET US PRAY Dear God, I come to You asking for forgiveness of all my sins. God, I pray that You would create a clean heart and renew the right spirit in me. Lord, I invite You into my heart, mind, and spirit today. Lord, fix my vision. Help me to BE free from the sin that keeps me from Your presence. Lord, help me walk in my freedom and not fear, insecurity, past trauma, lust, pride, or anything else that continuously trips me up. Lord, show me myself. Reveal to me the areas of bondage in my life. Lord, change my desires and purify my appetites. Lord, I ask that You strengthen me today to break strongholds. Lord, free me from the chains of familiarity, so I can grow closer to You. Lord, I pray that You would expose every familiar spirit sent to distract me this season. Lord, I ask You to sustain me in my weaknesses, so I will STAND FIRM in our freedom. Strengthen my faith and help me to trust You more, Lord. In Jesus name, I pray, amen.