Freedom

Ah those summer vacations! We were finally free from the confines of the classroom and could spend our days enjoying all the outdoors had to offer. Do you long for a time when your worries were few and your spirit felt free? Do you secretly search for a place you can check out of "adulting" and focus on the less serious matters in life for just a few moments in the day?

I've learned fear breeds fear, producing offspring such as worry, doubt and even full-grown panic and terror. It seems many of us have felt bound by these things...perhaps even more so over the last few days. The dust from their commotion actually appeared on the horizon months ago but I was taken aback by how rapidly they have suddenly settled upon us. As I sit here thinking of the days that may (or may not) be ahead I hear, very distinctly, a little song-bird that built on our front porch this spring. A summer storm has just passed and she's somewhere out there along the tree-line singing her same sweet song. Things have changed for her recently. With all the rain and wind we've received the last few weeks her nest was destroyed at some point. There is a new cat on the premises, lurking about in the early morning hours, that could pose quite a threat and those aggressive blue jays we have every year took up residence a bit earlier than usual. It seems to me she has some real challenges to face this year but her song comes just as freely now as it did at the beginning of her spring.  We each have future challenges to face as well.

As I'm listening to her song while mulling over these things Jesus ever so gently reminds me of His care for me. He tells me that in this world we will have trouble but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. He speaks of the sparrows - our Heavenly Father cares for them as well and we are of much more value than they. He reminds me of the freedom I have in Him that I could never experience outside of His care. Read John chapters 8 and 16 and Matthew chapter 10 if you want more than a glimpse into these assurances. So as I begin my morning I take every buzzing worry captive, I sweep up those I've knocked to the ground and I turn them all over to Jesus - my liberator. There are things I can do to prepare for the craziness of tomorrow but I refuse those things that come to mind driven by fear. Today I will move in the freedom and faith Christ provides and if I'm here tomorrow I will consciously choose to do the same.

I pray you have a personal relationship with this Jesus I'm resting in, for if you do you can rest in Him as well. If you do not know Him I would love to introduce you. Jesus - there is no safer place to rest today for He guarantees my steps all the way into eternity where my spirit will finally be free!

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