Areas of Bondage In a Believer's Life

When evaluating our lives, we must take an honest inventory of what is binding us, including our role in the bondage. We must dissect what the Bible says about freedom and how to apply it to our daily lives.

In today's Scripture, we see John proclaiming that truth will set us free. Four verses down, in John 8:36 (NLT), we see the famous verse, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” Of course, we know the implication is that if we know Jesus and walk with Him, we will live in freedom. But what happens when there is still bondage?

Well, the short answer is – an honest look. Today’s Scripture indicates that truth is what sets us free. The truth is that Jesus died for our sins and that we need Him. But further, that truth should come with a deep and honest analysis of what is going on in our lives, and does it align with God’s instruction. What are the key areas where many find themselves stuck, and what elements are necessary to receive freedom in each? Here are four considerations:

The Heart – Man, we could camp out the entire devotional on heart wounds, can’t we? Who among us has not been deeply wounded by the rushing waters of life? We all know, or have been, that person who cannot seem to move past the pain of a broken heart. A common statement in culture is to “follow your heart.” We are urged to do whatever feels good or right in whatever moment we feel it. Yet, we see in God’s Word in Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT), “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Does this seem like what we want to follow? Many of us have created bondage in our lives because we threw caution to the wind, did not consider God’s instructions, and leapt two feet first into disaster. This is not the way of our Lord. In everything, we surrender to prayer. True freedom in the heart always lies in our surrender to God’s ways.

Further, many harbor unforgiveness in the heart for years, fostering a breeding ground of additional bondage. We hide it away and tuck it into a back pocket, as a baby that we constantly nurse, often keeping long records of the many offenses we’ve suffered. In the coming days, we are going to take a deep dive into heart wounds and the Lord’s great provision of healing over them all!

The Mind – If we took a brief analysis of the psychological data of mental health diagnoses over the last 50 years, we will find that there has been an overwhelming increase in depression, anxiety, and a variety mental health diagnoses. Why do you think that is? Could it be that, as Believers, we have not understood the renewal of our mind and how to unlock the fiery arrows the enemy threw against us? We will dedicate several days in Week 3 analyzing what God’s Word says about our minds and how to experience freedom in it.

The Mouth – My husband has a Scripture highlighted in my Bible in Proverbs 10:19 (NLT). It reads, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” LOL. Can you tell that he may have heard one too many rants from this avid talker? In all seriousness, Believers in Christ have often not been taught the severity of a mouth that brings curses or the abundance of a mouth that brings blessings. Our mouth can easily bind us. Many of us have no idea how substantially. We’ve spoken lies and curses over ourselves for years, and then wonder why we are so bound!

Our Obedience – We’ve touched on obedience already this week, and you’ll find us revisiting recurring themes such as this one throughout our time together with the hope that the principles resonate deep in your spirit. The obedience to God’s Word and the pursuit of holiness is not an option for the Believer in Christ. Yes, we have God’s grace to cover our mess-ups. And yes, His mercy is new each day. But the obedient life is the free life. If you find yourself riddled with a myriad of bondages, analyze your obedience. It is likely there are some areas of improvement there.

Points to Ponder:

• Am I valuing my freedom enough to surrender my heart, mind, and mouth to the Lord?
• Are there old heart wounds of which I’ve refused to address? What would freedom look like if I were completely healed?