True Freedom

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord and the goodness of the Lord is all around......
     These words came to me through a song as I sat at work this morning. Suddenly I was reminded of the darkness I was pulled out of and I saw his light surround me. I could go on and on about what I went through in this life but I chose not to give glory to the devil. Yes, he had his way for a long time in my life. But God! So today is about giving glory to what God can do for you. I say you because I want you to know that you have not been forgotten... Every sleepless night and every tear you cry is bringing you one step closer to God and his amazing mercy he has had for you from the beginning. See he has seen your struggle and has known your pain. But he has been waiting for you to come to him. As much as it pains him to see you in your self destruction, he cannot move unless you allow him too. Acting like he doesn't exist doesn't take away from his power. It takes away from yours. Do you not know that you can live a life filled with victory and peace.  Check out what God's word says...

Romans 6:12-14 (ESV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
    
    What if I told you today that the sin you indulge in is the reason for your unhappiness? Would it be enough for you to let it go? 9 times out 10 you would let it go in one ear and out the other. It's sad but I've been there too. Where I believed the lie that it was too hard to let go. It was just me or I was born that way. It was as if I believed that I could get away with it. But you see its easy to describe the pleasure you get from the temporary fun your having. Getting drunk or high. Sleeping with this guy and that guy. Even going to the extreme of going after the  same sex for love and affection. Yes I've been there too. Or maybe you choose to ignore the pain by numbing yourself with drugs and different kinds of pills. Cursing from left to right, talking down on people like they aint right all the while you stand there like theres no dirt on your front porch. Let me say this. When you play with fire you will get burned. This happens to be when people remain the most silent. How ironic isn't it? How we brag about the work we do for the devil but when we are on our knees begging God for a miracle we are as silent as a mouse. It took me countless times before I realized I could no longer play with my life. I had to change for me and my kids and I had to chose to not go back for the sake of my soul.
  
The word of God describes the wages of sin is death. Don't dig your own grave! There is hope...

Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
    
     God gives you rest from all the heartache and sorrow you've endured. He gives you a way out of the temptation that will come your way. You will never get to a point where you won't have to fight anymore because the moment you get comfortable there will be another battle that you have to get suited for. Look when you can see that this is a temporary arrangement preparing you for what you will find on the other side, then you can persevere. You can find strength for each battle. Find the peace in the stillness of your heart where God's spirit resides. There is so much I can say to persuade you to come to God, to make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior. The truth of the matter is that until you want to make that choice, my words will mean nothing. The least that I can pray is that somehow God will use my testimony to bring hope to the hopeless. That he will touch whoever reads this with his devine fire sparking a desire to belong to him and only him. Maybe you've been through the fire and the waters and you've seen so much bad that you never could believe there is good. I have been there but let me tell you today that, yes, there is good. There is a peace that surpasses all understanding. There is a King that is waiting to repay you double for your trouble.

Zechariah 9:12 (ESV)
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Keep reading let the Word of God encourage you. Forget about what you feel or think. The word of God is spirit and it is life.

Isaiah 61:1-7
New International Version (NIV)
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

  It's your choice to make. What will you choose? Will you continue in the way neglecting the truth. Or will you open your heart to God the creator of heaven and earth and receive him. My prayer is that you get to know him. You have heard of him, even maybe heard of what he's done for others. Find out who he is for yourself. His love is unfailing and His grace is amazing. He is a father to the fatherless, strength for the weak, hope for the hopeless, healing for the sick, peace for the distressed, and anything else you could ever need! He is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end. From A-Z it is he the great I AM!