Joy and disappointment are the norm for the growing believer. Hebrews 10:14 reveals the believer in Jesus is both perfect and being made perfect at the same time. Jesus has both changed us, joy, and is changing us, disappointment.
Christians often say, “Hey, I’m not perfect. I have a long way to go, but I’ve seen Jesus change my life.” This is not just a humble statement. It’s the true reality of a healthy believer who is exercising the truth as they walk with the Spirit. We are perfect in God’s eyes; and yet, we are being made perfect at the same time.
We will experience both great joy over defeating some drugs of choice and great disappointment at falling to others, quite possibly on the same day. Go with it rather than beating yourself up. This balance of joy and disappointment will be the day to day reality for those who love Jesus as they listen to and follow Him in their every day life situations.
Set Fre“E” Now“W”w

Fear is not the opposite of faith, doubt is, but it’s just as deadly. It’s one emotion that can lead me down the path to taking my drug of choice. I know what God has said in His Word will always come true. I, however, either doubt He will do what He did on the pages of Scripture in my life and/or I will have the ability or worthiness to follow Him.
It’s at times like these that I must exhale faith though I’m inhaling doubt. It’s time to exercise the truth of what the Psalmist wrote in 100:3, “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”
Though we inhale doubt, let’s exhale faith and know our God better by jumping into His arms rather than our drugs of choice.
Set Free No“W”ww

Today, Thanksgiving, is a holiday where Americans are supposed to take one day of the year and give thanks for the many blessings in their lives. For the believer, however, this is to be an ongoing daily experience, not just when the turkey and stuffing hit the table.
Psalm 30:12, “O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
There you have it. Giving thanks is on the both sides of the book. Your God wants to be thanked everyday everywhere. Here’s an interesting side note to thanking Jesus throughout your day. It’s hard to be bummed or depressed, which can lead to your drug of choice, when you’re being thankful. The two don’t mix. Want victory today? Remember to thank your God for who He is and what He has, is and will do in and through you.
Se“T” Free Nowww

It’s called Black Friday here in the States. It’s supposed to be the biggest retail savings days of the year. On this Friday, some retail stores will offer absurdly low prices on a few items to get you into their store. They want your hard earned “holiday” cash in their pockets.
You’ll see two prices for the item you want when you arrive, the full price and the marked down price. Your eye sees the difference and your brain goes, “Awesome deal! Let’s buy it now because this deal won’t be here tomorrow.” What some stores are doing, however, is repeating a deal they’ve already given earlier in the year or is their current online price. In other words, they are trying to deceive you into thinking you’re getting a good deal only on this day so you better get in line and buy it…now.
Your brain makes the decision based upon the information it received through your eyes. Yet, what you saw is not the great deal you thought you saw! This is where we must slow down to listen and follow Jesus everyday everywhere. The Spirit gives us an extra set of eyes to see through this deceptive scheme called discernment.
It works with all kinds of deception, especially with our drugs of choice. The Spirit gives us the ability to “see” through our wants and “needs,” which can lead us to our drugs of choice, to see Jesus, the only One who can meet our true needs for security, significance and safety.
Keep your eyes on Jesus this holiday season. He can not only save you some cash, but you give you victory as well.
Set Free Now“W”w

Catchy tunes stick in our heads, even when we don’t want them too. This morning, it was one I wanted to stick. I woke with a song in my head from the service on Sunday. It was Chris Tomlin’s song, Our God.
Some of the lyrics are, “And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what could stand against? Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?” What sweet words of truth to help me stay focused on Jesus, rather than the struggles I face, during my waking hours.
The Lord instructs us repeatedly in the Psalms to sing songs to Him, even ones we make up (“a new song”). Songs are helpful aids in remembering the truths the Spirit has us put into our shields of faith to fight off the enemy’s lies. They can help us remember who Jesus is and what He can do in the situations we face throughout our day.
Who cares if you’re not the greatest singer in the world! Your music to the Lord is sweetness in His ears. He’s the only one who counts, especially as He uses them to make the great exchange – your character for Jesus’!
Put in a worship CD, turn to a worship station on the radio or plug your music device into your car’s stereo and sing to your Lord. I can almost guarantee that a smile will break out on your face!
S“E”t Free Nowww