Month: April 2019

Hey Friends,

Have I ever told you guys that I love history? It was one of my favorite subjects in school. I feel like if we know about our history, then we can better prepare ourselves for our future.

You guys also know that for the past few months, I’ve been trying to walk in freedom with Jesus Christ. For me, in order to walk in freedom, I need to know about my past, my history.

I’ll give you guys an example. Are you guys familiar with US American history? Well, for my readers that do not know, I’ll give you a quick run down.

So, when this country was “founded” by Amerigo Vespucci, Great Britain decided to claim it and call it their own. Fast forward a couple hundred years later, Great Britain set up 13 colonies in what is now called North America. A war started in 1776 called the Revolutionary War or The American Revolution between the 13 colonies in North American and British government because they decided to raise taxes. It was getting to the point where people couldn’t afford to feed their children and take care of their families.

George Washington, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and others decided to commit treason by fighting against the British government so North American can become independent from Great Britain. Initially, North America stopped paying taxes, which caused the British armies to come over using brutal force to make us pay. But as you see, it didn’t work. After eight years of fighting, America won our independence from Great Britain. This is why we celebrate the 4th of July!

Why am I talking about my countries independence day? Well, I promise I have a point to what I’m sure was a history lesson that most of you already knew. When I think about the Revolutionary War, I think about how that was the start of our countries freedom. People didn’t like the circumstances in which they were living so they stood up and did something about it. And almost 300 years later, we still have one of the best military operations that continue to fight so we can maintain our freedom as a country. We have our problems and we have certainly made mistakes, but it doesn’t negate the fact that we have a lot more freedom in our country than most countries in the world.

Now, let’s think about our freedom in Christ the same way. I got tired of “paying taxes” to the enemy when I wasn’t even suppose to. Jesus defeated the enemy when he sacrificed himself on the cross for us. But the enemy lied to me. He had me thinking that I was trapped in his prison and that there was no escape. He had me thinking I had to “pay taxes” when Jesus has already paid the ultimate tax. Just like North American citizens in 1775, I was being robbed. I was being robbed of my mind, God’s love, peace, grace, and mercy that is freely offered to us by our heavenly Father.

There is already a war going on in the spiritual realm for our souls, but it’s not our fight. Anything that the enemy tries to throw at you, Jesus says to give it to him, lay it at his feet and he will take care of it. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. We also can’t stand idly by and allow the enemy to take over our minds. We can fight against the enemy ourselves by renouncing the lies that he has been feeding us and announcing God’s Truths.

How do we do that, you ask? Well, all you have to do is match up your thoughts with the Bible. If what you’re thinking doesn’t match what the Bible says, you thought is coming from the devil. For example, if you’re thinking that no one loves you, that is a lie from the pits of hell because number one the bible says God loves you and there isn’t anything you can do that will make Him stop loving you and number 2 I love you.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39

Knowing our history has helped me better prepare for our future. I am able to appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that our military has made and continues to make everyday so we can be free. And just like our country continues to fight for our freedom, we have to continue to fight and put on our armor each day (Ephesians 6:10-18) in order to stay free by renewing our minds each day with the Word of God.

I love and appreciate our Lord Jesus Christ even more for the sacrifice that he made to make sure we are free. What’s even more cool about it, is that his sacrifice came from an overwhelming amount of love that he has for us, a love so big, our simple human minds can’t even fathom it. And in knowing that, we can try to love ourselves and each other the way Christ Jesus loves us.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17