Set Me Free
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake,
so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened,
and every one's bands were loosed.
~Acts 16:25-26
I read this verse last night at probably about midnight. Wow! Talk about the Word being living and powerful--this spoke right to my heart...
Ok, I'm not in a literal prison, but sometimes it feels like I'm trapped in weird emotional cages, and nothing I do seems to set me free. There's the problem right there...the little word "I."
I can't do anything on my own. My own attempts to arrive at wholeness and healing won't get me anywhere. I think that is where I can get so discouraged. I try so hard to be happy and healthy and strong that I wear myself out. I expect so much of myself, instead of just resting in the peace that God promises. His timing is perfect. He knows what He's doing. His love remains...
It remains through darkness, and heartache, and hopelessness. This love never changes. I am the one who changes. My eyes turn inward and downward with self-pity and fear and pride and I lose sight of this Love.
It is so beautiful to imagine Paul and Silas worshipping God in the midst of the deepest depths of despair. I have a hard time believing that they were happy-go-lucky, run -through-the-wildflowers happy 24-7, but praise still was on their lips. They were chained and bound physically, but their hearts were free.
I long for that freedom. Freedom to let God love me without limits. Freedom to sing through the midst of sorrow and grief. Freedom to worship Christ even when my emotions are telling me otherwise.
He moves in our praise...chains are broken...doors are opened...fear is crushed!
PTL!(and I don't say thay lightly)
and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake,
so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened,
and every one's bands were loosed.
~Acts 16:25-26
I read this verse last night at probably about midnight. Wow! Talk about the Word being living and powerful--this spoke right to my heart...
Ok, I'm not in a literal prison, but sometimes it feels like I'm trapped in weird emotional cages, and nothing I do seems to set me free. There's the problem right there...the little word "I."
I can't do anything on my own. My own attempts to arrive at wholeness and healing won't get me anywhere. I think that is where I can get so discouraged. I try so hard to be happy and healthy and strong that I wear myself out. I expect so much of myself, instead of just resting in the peace that God promises. His timing is perfect. He knows what He's doing. His love remains...
It remains through darkness, and heartache, and hopelessness. This love never changes. I am the one who changes. My eyes turn inward and downward with self-pity and fear and pride and I lose sight of this Love.
It is so beautiful to imagine Paul and Silas worshipping God in the midst of the deepest depths of despair. I have a hard time believing that they were happy-go-lucky, run -through-the-wildflowers happy 24-7, but praise still was on their lips. They were chained and bound physically, but their hearts were free.
I long for that freedom. Freedom to let God love me without limits. Freedom to sing through the midst of sorrow and grief. Freedom to worship Christ even when my emotions are telling me otherwise.
He moves in our praise...chains are broken...doors are opened...fear is crushed!
PTL!(and I don't say thay lightly)
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