A to Z Devotion: F is for Freedom

Photo courtesy morgueFile.com

"...be set free from its bondage...and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:21 (ESV)

"...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

You've heard of compulsive nail-biters. I was a compulsive nail-picker. I've been that way all my life, unable to stop picking at my nails (picking them almost to the quick). The compulsion got so bad, that as I did other things like typing, praying, or reading, all I could think about was when I could pick my nails again.

A year ago, I started to pray to be healed from this, but the break-through came on January 18. I was reading "Becoming the Woman God Wants You to Be" by Donna Partow and the lesson was about confessing secret sin. As I prayed, God brought my nail-picking to mind. In earnest, I confessed it as sin and asked Him to take it away, to release me from it's stronghold - I did not want to be consumed by it any longer. 

And then, I felt God answer my prayer! Healing came over me. Tears poured from my eyes in gratitude as I felt freed from the compulsion. 

It has been over two months now and I haven't picked my nails or even had the desire to. I have heard of people being healed by Jesus from drug addiction --I feel like that. When I look down at my beautiful nails, I am so thankful to God for blessing me in this way.

And now I come to an unfamiliar predicament...my nails are getting too long and I'm going to have to cut them. Praise be to God! 

Have you been freed or healed from a particular sin, habit, or sickness?

Small Seed for 2-4-15

It's A Race and They're Cheering Us On!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Focus for today: “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”

What does this mean to you?

I imagine the saints looking down on me. What would they say? “Get up you lazy bones.” Or “Hooray! Keep pressing on. You’re doing great!”

We do have to keep in mind that life is a race. We should never get complacent and bored with our faith. There is so much to do and so little time! God wants every precious child with Him in heaven and we are His hands and feet.

What do you think the saints are saying right now to the Church?

Want to dig deeper on this topic? 

Check out Running With The Witnesses over at DesiringGod.org. 

It's long, but REALLY GOOD!