I Am Free, Praise The Lord I’m Free!

Today marks a significant day in my life. It is the day that I celebrate my 41st birthday. Forty has great significance in the Bible. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. (Matthew 4:2) The Israelites ate manna and were in the wilderness for 40 years. (Exodus 16:35) God caused it to rain for 40 days and 40 nights during the days of Noah. (Genesis 7:4) Moses was with God on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. (Exodus 24:18; 34:28) After 40 days, after 40 years, 41 was coming!

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) There are times we have to become like spiritual nouns, and live our lives free from names, people, places and things. Unknowingly, we live our lives to please others and don’t recognize that we are in bondage. The path to freedom is a process, which is why the Israelites wandered around the wilderness for 40 years. God was working in them, there was a process of purification that was taking place before they were able to claim what was promised to them.

As I reflected over the past forty years of my life, I have seen where at different seasons, I was in bondage. From my behavior, the way I lived and the way I spoke. The Lord was not pleased with who I had become. My word for 2024 was “blameless.” In Genesis 17:1, God spoke to Abraham, revealed who He was to Abraham, The Lord God Almighty, and told Abraham to walk before Him, and be blameless. Say what God? Blameless!! I struggled! And struggled! And struggled some more! I struggled with pleasing others and not God. I struggled with gossiping. I struggled with knowing what was right and not doing the right thing, I struggled!! The process was not easy, everywhere the word “blameless” was popping up! There were days I tried to hide from His Presence because the process was difficult! Merciful Jesus was there with me all along. The Lord was not playing, He wanted to sanctify me and He wasn’t letting me go. He wanted me to be free. He wanted to untangle me from the yoke of bondage that I didn’t even know had me bound. He wanted me to be free so that others can be set free. At times, we forget that it’s not about us, when we walk in obedience to God. It’s easy to say “it’s not about us, Lord have your way” but it’s difficult when it’s time to apply it and live it out. Obedience to God may seem absolutely crazy to others, but beautiful and pleasing to Him. Some may point fingers saying ‘it is not of God,’ ‘The timing isn’t right’, or ‘why does it have to be done this way.’ But God has a greater plan and purpose for our lives that surpasses our level of comfort and pleasure.

When we submit to God and ask Him to change us, to transform us to look like Him, His process oftentimes breaks our hearts and the hearts of others, but grace is available if we ask for it. I’m learning how jealous God is of His people. How much He loves us, hates idolatry and desires to set us free from everything that doesn’t please Him. We have to be careful not to speak out negatively at the Lord’s beautiful process of sanctification in the lives of His children, because when we despise the process, we despise Him. His ways are not our ways.

Forty years have gone, and forty-one has come. I am free to be who my Father has called me to be. Free to walk in the Spirit. Free to please Him, worship Him, free to love and serve Him. It is the Lord Jesus who has set me free, it is my desire not to use this freedom to gratify the desires of my flesh. I want Him to always be pleased with me. I have experienced His love, and have come to appreciate my Father’s love for me. Oh, how He loves and lavishes His love on me, pours it into the deep parts of my soul that is open to Him. I am liberated in Him, and I receive His grace with my head bowed low.

Daughter of Fire, the freedom that I have experienced and is available to me is also available to you. Seek to please the Lord with everything in you. Please Him when it doesn’t make sense to others. Please Him when it’s hard and when it’s easy. Jesus pleased the Father, and the Father let others know that He was pleased with His Son. Daughter of Fire, you are not alone, His Spirit is with you to lead guide, comfort and teach you. You were created by Him and for Him, so why not please Him? Tell Him you want to be free, worship Him and love Him, it’s such a great feeling in your soul, body and Spirit when you’re free. Sin keeps us in bondage, but Jesus wants us to be free. Call on His Name today and live in the freedom that was purchased at Calvary. I love you, but Jesus loves you more!!!

Happy birthday to me!!!! I love You Jesus, Thank You Father for another chance to live and please You with my life! I am free, praise the Lord I’m free, no longer bound, no more chains holding me! Hallelujah Jesus! Praise the Lord, Hallelujah I’M FREE!