Freedom to Help Others

I have learned that I have a heart to help others; to help set them free from circumstances I was a slave to myself. The key here is “was a slave to myself.” I can only help people get “free” from areas I am free from myself. That or walk with them in the same journey I am walking in too. At the end of the day, I think we are all searching for freedom from something. So, where is true freedom found, if we really want to help other people as Jesus has called us to?

Freedom is found in a relationship with God the Father. That’s where I found freedom. Not in a church, bible study, or weekend retreat. I found freedom when I really started to pursue God and my relationship with him. I started talking to him and asking him questions. I had never done this before. I’d been in church for years, but I didn’t know I could sit down with God and have an actual conversation. I thought he was just the head of the Christian religion who listened to me complain, I mean pray.  

I guess, I just assumed when I prayed I was talking to God, but my prayers were so routine. I didn’t understand that I could have full on conversations with God, ask Him specific questions, and get specific answers. I mean I’ll be honest I had someone kind of walk me through the process in a counseling session.

She kind of caught me of guard. We were processing some sadness I had been carrying from the loss of my wife a few years ago, and the lady simply said, “Ok let’s ask God.” I thought she meant like an assignment for me to complete that week at home in my personal prayer time. She said, “Oh no, we’re gonna ask Him now.” Ok…let’s ask him.

I had never talked to God in front of someone like that and awaited an immediate answer! I was kind of nervous, sounds strange right? I’d been in church for years; but here I am having a conversation with God, sitting in front of a lady I just met, out loud. Guess what? He started answering me! Not audibly, but in my spirit. No joke. 

I left that day with a weight lifted off of me. I asked God to take my sadness from losing Ashlie away, and he did. This doesn’t mean I never get sad, I still have moments. However, the prolonged season of sadness and depression was over, and I haven’t experienced it since. I was in awe of what we accomplished that day. I was finally free, all because I asked God to set me free. 

When God sent Jesus here, he sent him to set us free. Look it up, it’s in the Bible. When Jesus first goes public, one of the first things he says is “I’ve come to set the captives free...” Free from circumstances and religion. Free to walk with Him in a relationship. I’m not talking about what people call Christianity and the modern day church, I’m talking about a real tangible relationship with God, the Father. You want freedom? You can have it. Freedom is found in a relationship with God. It is not found in religion. Freedom is a real thing my friend, and it’s available right now. You want to help people and set people free. You have to be willing to tackle your own areas of challenge and learn to let the Father set you free.