Freedom is...

Hmmm....hardly any takers on my last question: "What does freedom in Christ look like?" Is that because we don't know the answer? I think most of us who are believers in Christ know at least a measure of freedom, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom". I also believe it is a long journey towards freedom, in which we can experience new measures of freedom daily, as long as we consistently chase after Christ. And so, what does this freedom in Christ actually look like in our day-to-day lives?

Thanks to Kristi who pointed out that freedom in Christ is beyond the mirror that for so long misrepresented her true value; that freedom in Christ means loving herself as a creation of the King; that freedom in Christ means loving others unconditionally and pouring herself out completely on the ONE she adores. Good stuff, Kristi!

I think I can add some more...but in no way will I exhaust the ways in which we discover and exhibit freedom in Christ. For Christ came to set the captives free, and as long as our feet trod this earth, the Holy Spirit will be breathing freedom breath on us. We must grasp that there is much more to Christianity than salvation, discipline and good works. We must consider that many Christians still live as captives - captives to bitterness, captives to resentment, captives to the pain of abuse, captives to doubt and unbelief. But He came to set us free. And we can be free indeed!! And as we experience Christ's liberation, we will run more wholeheartedly after Him. What does it look like?

FREEDOM IN CHRIST CAN BE:

- Recognizing thoughts of jealousy, bitterness, resentment, and submitting them to the Lord.
- Blessing and praying for those who curse us.
- Renewing our mind in the Word.
- Spending as much time listening for the Lord's voice as we do talking to Him.
- Asking the Lord daily to search us, that we might have clean hands and a pure heart.
- Allowing the Lord to be our shield and defense as He promises to be.
- Standing upon the Word of God.
- Recognizing that wisdom and knowledge are good, but are not enough apart from the experience of the Person of God.
- Conversing with I AM throughout the day.
- Being able to say and believe that "I am a friend of God".
- Understanding that we are each just a small part of the body of Christ.
- Understanding, too, that our small part of the body is appointed to bear lasting fruit.
- Willingly and gratefully and with joy allowing the Lord to "prune" us.
- Testing all of our attitudes and opinions against the Word of God, and waiting upon His still small voice to direct us with them.
- Kindly speaking up when we hear gossip happening rather than turning a deaf ear.
- Boldly and lovingly pointing people toward the Lord.
- Being teachable and humble. Graciously taking direction from the authorities that God has placed over us.
- Being diligent to remain in the Lord.
- Being intentional about loving others and showing God's mercy wherever we are in this broken world.
- Being humble enough to admit our mistakes and ask for help. Seeking God's appointed leaders for counsel.
- Recognizing that God places dreams within us. BIG dreams. Freedom is believing that He really can make them happen.
- WANTING more out of our relationships with Christ.
- Humbly submitting our areas of captivity to the Lord as He reveals them to us.
- Standing in the authority of Christ, and donning the full armour of God to come against the fiery darts of the evil one.

And Freedom in Christ is recognizing that the Lord always will have new things to show me. Freedom in Christ is the opposite of complacency.

So, those are my thoughts for now. Did this spur any of you on to think a little more about this - at least enough to comment? :) I love dialogue, and I love your new ideas!