Yesterday I climbed a good sized hill I’d never climbed before, one that I could see the entire path that led to the top. As I approached its base, a homeowner came out to warn me about the rattlesnakes and coyotes I could encounter along the way. As I’d encountered them before, I thanked her for the heads up and began to climb. Interestingly enough though, about half way up I could no longer see the entire trail, only the section I was walking along. I wasn’t worried as I saw the entire path before I started. I simply had to trust and stay on the path to get me to the top.
This scenario gives us a picture of the principle Entertain the truth. The Bible describes the hills or challenges in our lives – both the path to follow (Set Free Nowww) and those that would wish us to be afraid to walk or stay on that path. It also tells us that if we follow the Path/Way and the Truth, Jesus, we’ll end up on top of our challenges. We will taste victory and experience joy. There are times, however, when our journey will take us places where we can’t see the victory or the end of the challenge. Jesus is asking us to trust Him enough to stay on the path He laid out for us to follow.
I got to the top and felt the victory of a cool breeze on my face and the joy of seeing the entire valley spread out before my eyes. If we trust Jesus by keep walking with Him, even when we can’t see the top, we too will enjoy the victory of becoming more like Jesus and experiencing more of the joy and peace He has for us.

S“E”t Free Nowww

A good friend of mine taught me a wonderful principle to keep from crashing when I’m mountain biking: keep looking where you want to go as your bike will follow your eyes. If you want to avoid the deep channels in the trail focus on the part of the trail that goes around them, not the channel itself. Your wheel will go where your eyes go.
It’s the same with becoming more like Jesus. If you want off the sin-confession-sin cycle keep listening to Jesus (Heb. 12:2) with your eyes focused on the truths from His Word, rather than on where you don’t want to go, your drug of choice.
If you choose to put your filter down (the FREEdom Process) for any length of time (focusing on the channel) your life will go where you’re eyes are looking (the channel in the trail) and you’ll end up scrapping your knees and elbows on your drugs of choice.
Keep doing what got and keeps you free from your drugs of choice (Gal. 5:1): focusing on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, and the truths from His Word, so you can continue to successfully navigate the deep channels off life and enjoy riding on your journey.

Set “Free” Nowww

In the book, Blue Like Jazz, the author makes a very profound statement. “Our behavior will not be changed long with self discipline (i.e. focusing on your behavior – my note), but fall in love and a human will accomplish what was never thought possible. By accepting God’s love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel we need to obey.”
Love is a very powerful motivator for life-change. Jesus calls us friends. This relationship can be nothing short of awesome and fulfilling if we choose to hang out and talk with Him wherever we go (i.e. living with a Biblical worldview). As our love grows for Him, the more we’ll want to be closer to Him and allow Him to remove what hinders or hurts this relationship (Heb. 12:1).
God demonstrated that you’re lovable when through the cross He said, “I love you!” Since you are lovable, let your Friend teach you to how to love Him. This love can melt the ice and give you the motivation and power to allow Him to change your life for the better.

“S”et Free Nowww

I know the truth we’ve been talking about all week that life change takes time is a bitter pill to swallow. We’d rather have had God change us yesterday. So what do you do while you practice processing your daily decisions through the truths at the point of the lies? Enjoy your walk with Jesus, your best friend.
Abraham left his homeland even though he didn’t know where He was going. Why? He was friends with God (James 2:23). He was given three very specific promises (Gen. 12:1-2) that never became reality in his lifetime. Why continue to walk with a God who doesn’t seem to keep His promises? Abraham enjoyed walking with his friend that’s why.
Abraham had a personal relationship with His God, which meant more to him than the end result of that relationship – goodies here or heaven later. It was about being with his God now as well as forever. Did Abraham have some bad days along the way? Sure. We have a world conflict today as a consequence of one particular mistake. Did Abraham have some good days? He sure did and became God’s example of a future Father-Son love relationship.
Yes it takes time to retrain your brain to think biblically in every situation you face. Yes it takes time to become more like Jesus. Yet remember the “N” principle: Never give up yourself – Jesus won’t. He doesn’t give up on us because we’re His friends (Jn. 15:15)! Rather than make living about what comes next, make it about living with your friend now.

Set Free “N”owww

I was reading a book about the US Navy Seals when I ran across one of the many sayings they use to motivate each other. Keeping in mind that we are to process all sources of information, I became intrigued with this statement: the only easy day was yesterday. I had to admit it had me stumped. I went to their website to discover its meaning.
This phrase talks about what the weeks of grueling training teaches each potential Seal. It’s not only physical and mental strength, but it’s also about having the heart to continue on with the determination to do whatever they’re doing to the best of their ability. It’s the ability to dig deep and keep going despite how much they hurt physically or want to quit mentally.
The idea is that you keep pressing on toward the goal. Yesterday was easy compared to the changes needed to be made today. This is one of things Philippians 3:13-14 talks about. We forget yesterday with its victories and defeats and keep pressing forward to be like Jesus in the situations we face today. We can’t let yesterday hinder us in choosing to listen to and do what Jesus says to do today (i.e. a Biblical worldview).
This is further exemplified by the principle Exercise the truth. When it comes to life change, we won’t always feel like doing what Jesus says to do. We will not always think what He’s told us to do will work; but we take that step of faith anyway. As we do, we will become more like Jesus and with it, experience the joy and peace He has for each day, not just yesterday.

Set Fre“E” Nowww