What makes you feel free? Is it your freedom to choose? Your ability to seek pleasurable things? The fact that you live in a free country? Whether you’re still searching for a sense of freedom or you think you are living out that freedom, I want you to consider a few things.
Freedom of Choice
There’s no doubt that having the freedom of choice is a gift. You choose what car to drive, what town to live in, what career path to follow, and what friends to have.
It’s so freeing to have so many choices! You don’t have to run your decisions past anyone. It’s all about what makes you feel best.
Choose a delicious dinner, an amazing movie, a few more hours scrolling through social media.
Turn on your favorite self-help guru and listen to how you can better serve yourself.
How does that one song go? “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.”
Yeah!
Just do that!
Whatever you want, TAKE IT!
Freedom to Claim Ignorance
Do you ever seek pleasure? For some, it’s hopping on the internet to browse your favorite adult site. For others, it’s going in and out of relationships, one night stands, or whatever other short-lived connection they can find.
As for me? I was guilty of all of the above. From a porn addiction stemming back to single-digit childhood to chasing girls through my college years. I saw it, I liked it, I wanted it, I got it.
And who cares, right? Watching porn never hurt anyone. Those girlfriends – they wanted the same thing from me that I wanted from them.
No harm no foul.
Where Does This “Freedom” Leave You?
Only no amount of chasing these things gained any kind of freedom. That mindset is all about claiming freedom while you’re actually in chains.
You’re chained to the idea that you need a nicer car, bigger house, and hotter girlfriend. You watch porn to satisfy yourself, not giving a second thought to the perversion and sex trafficking happening behind the scenes. Not to mention the unhealthy addiction you’re forming.
Everything you do in pursuit of freedom and happiness leaves you feeling empty. Your response is to go find that next thing to fill the void. A new job, a change of location, a new match on whatever dating app you’re on. But nothing ever satisfies. And if it does, it doesn’t last.
When it comes down to it, you’re fighting surrender to the only One who can give you real freedom. You think, “I can do it myself. I don’t need any help.”
That’s so arrogant it hurts!
I’m speaking from personal experience. You can read the longer version here, but essentially, I was that guy chasing the newer, better, bigger, hotter, and more gratifying. It left me inches away from suicide, fighting the idea of surrender.
On the one end, surrender to the thought of ending it all.
On the other end, surrender to a Creator you don’t know much about for the chance at a supposed new beginning.
Take the Shortcut!
It took years of pain to finally make the choice I’m asking you to make right now.
Skip all the suffering, chasing, feeling empty, and go to the ONLY solution.
Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
If you’re feeling lost, lonely, shackled, or afraid, I challenge you to make that choice right now. Find out how free you can be if only you would surrender.
Surrender from the hamster wheel of trying to do it on your own. Leave all your problems, anxieties, worries, and cares at His feet and let Him bless you with peace that surpasses understanding.
It’s not by your effort that you will feel free.
It’s only by your submission to the One who created it all.
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