We have a tradition in our house where we watch a movie that covers each holiday. I know, Hollywood loves to take a kernel of truth and explode the story from there, which is why we must keep our filters in the “On” positions at all times.
This particular movie was about America’s War for Independence. There were quite a few memorable scenes in the movie; and one that fits with our discussion of freedom from our drugs of choice.
A young man enters a church asking for volunteers to fight on the Continental’s side. The pastor objects to the timing of the request as the British had just hung three men. No man stands up. At this point, a young woman stands and gives an awesome speech.
“I heard you often speak of freedom at my father’s table, including you Reverend. Will you now, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are? I ask only that you act upon the beliefs of which you have so strongly spoken and which you so strongly believe.” Quite a few men stand up to volunteer, including the pastor!
We say we believe the Bible and what it teaches. We say we love Jesus. We say Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We say we want freedom from our drugs of choice. Today, right now, will you stop at only words? Real joy, real significance, real security and real peace comes only to those who put their beliefs into action (James 2:14-19). Remember, it’s the small daily faith choices we make that lead to big freedom changes in our lives.

Set Fre“E” Nowww

Chaim Weizmann, who knew something about independence as the first president of Israel said, “Independence is never given to a people, it has to be earned; and, once earned, must be defended.”
Another famous Jewish man wrote, “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.” True independence, freedom from our drugs of choice, is given by Jesus, who earned it through His victorious life, death and resurrection. This is the first part of Galatians 5:1. We can’t earn our independence as it is already given to us.
We can, however, go back to slavery! We must defend ourselves by using our shield of faith in the truths found in the Word of God from going backward. Each day’s small choices can keep us free or lead us back to slavery. Today, the 4th of July (to my American readers), continue to trust and walk with your true Freedom Fighter (hint: it’s not the government or yourself) to stay free!

“S”et Free Nowww

I remember as a kid going to the local high school for junior lifeguard training. The instructors had you start in the “little pool” and work your way up to the “big pool” where two springboard diving boards awaited you – a “low dive” and a “high dive.” If you wanted to jump off the high dive (I never dove off – too scary. It was cannon ball city!), you had to climb rung by rung up a ladder that seemed to go way up into the sky. At least that’s what if felt like to a 10 year-old kid.
It’s the same way if you want to experience freedom from your drugs of choice. You don’t just end up repeating that sinful behavior, you’ve been making small choices along the way there. I read the other day, “The small choices in our lives are the rungs of the ladder of the high diving board from which big choices make their grand leap.” You don’t just jump. You’ve chosen to climb each rung of the ladder. You don’t just fall into your drug of choice. You’ve been thinking about it long before you took it.
If you want to experience freedom you must first decide that you want it. Then you must choose to make the small little choices throughout your day that will either lead you toward your drug of choice or toward Jesus. It’s the little choices that lead to the big decisions.
Some of the little decisions can be where you go (to a computer in a room where everyone can see you or one in your room), who you hang out with (friends who will fight for your freedom or make it easy to fall), what you listen to (build you up or make you mad), what thoughts you allow to roll around in your head (I’m a loser or a child of God), etc.
Keep your running conversation going with God so you can ask for His help with each step of the climb. Remember, big freedom comes from the small choices you make throughout your day.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

“A young lady confidently walked around the room while explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘Half empty or half full?’ She fooled them all. She inquired with a smile, ‘How heavy is this glass of water?’
“Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
“She replied, ‘The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”
“She continued, ‘And that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”
This is a wonderful illustration of why the Bible says we need other believers in our lives. If we want to walk in freedom, we must let others into our lives as life happens to everyone, no matter who you are. And when it does, if we have someone to carry those challenges with us (Galatians 6:2), we can experience freedom from our drugs of choice.
Yes, fellow believers can be prickly at times. Yes, they can cause us occasional discomfort. I want you to look at the picture, though. Yes the cactus has needles that can hurt, but it also has a beautiful flower to view and is a source of water to drink and nourishment to eat once you get past those needles.
James 5:16 reveals that if you want victory over your drugs of choice, you’re going to need at least one prickly person in your life. Who will it be and when will you let them get close? You’ll be on your road to freedom as soon as you answer those two questions.

Set Free Noww“W”

I recently read that “being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life.” This statement, however, is completely based in your ability to trust Him.
For those who see God change their lives, they first had to come to grips with the fact they couldn’t change their own lives; and second, were willing to trust that Jesus could. Have you come to this realization yet?
Once they realized this, they then had to enlarge their view of who Jesus is and what He could do for them. This meant spending time in the Word listening to Jesus, and then each day practicing what they learned in the situations they encountered. As they did, they saw God do incredible things in and through their lives. Are you at this point yet?
The reason, however, so few Christians have and are is that most Christians leave God behind when they exit the doors of their church each Sunday. I lovingly refer to them as Christian atheists. They live every day but Sunday as if God doesn’t exist. Oh, if they only were willing to let go of the reigns of their lives.
Hopefully, as you look back over your week, that doesn’t describe your life. Instead, you kept a running conversation going with and drawn closer to Jesus. As you continue to keep talking, your ability to trust Jesus will increase, which means you’ll be able to decide to be a little more daring with each passing day. Keep those conversations going because your God does indeed exist. In fact, He’s living inside you!

S“E”t Free Nowww