As I sat down to write a letter to my 10-month-old daughter, thoughts on Freedom were bubbling away in my heart. I knew she wouldn’t be able to read it for quite some time or fully grasp the content for many years to come.
And when she does read it, I don’t know how it will be received or what impact the words may have, but none of that matters as I believe these words are what God wants me to share with her and I believe He will use it for a specific time in her future.
As a parent I have a great love for my children which gives me a tiny insight into the love our heavenly Father has for us and I can only attempt to echo His rich, life-giving words that he has for us; his sons and daughters…
Dear Daughter,
How precious God’s thoughts are about you. You are made in his image and you are his masterpiece. He has a good plan for you and your life and he will work all things together for good.
We need to keep Him number one in our lives; to love him with all our heart and to keep seeking. His word says if we keep seeking we will find him and if we knock the door will be opened to us (Matthew chapter seven, verse seven). When we accept Jesus as our Lord and choose to follow him and his ways, the most abundant life awaits.
Will it always be easy? Not at all! In fact, persecution for believing in Him is inevitable. So, are we to shrink back and hide away? At times this will be tempting but we are to shine brightly; to live in this world but not be of it.
We can’t do it on our own or in our own strength. The Holy Spirit is our great helper, our guide and counsellor but we need to invite him in and be still enough to hear his gentle whisper.
God is merciful, gracious and loving, evidenced by him sending His son Jesus to willingly die in our place, for our sins. He doesn’t just want us to be saved so we can go to heaven one day while we still live in chains here on earth. He wants us to be free from anything that may hold us down, so we can be free to be fully alive in Him. To love him without reservation and in turn love others whether they deserve it or not (particularly if they don’t).
Freedom From
Precious child of God, his desire is for you to be re-born into freedom.
Freedom from the world and its ways; the distractions, the desires, the earthly mind-sets.
Freedom from Fear; fear of man, fear of failure, fear of the future.
Freedom from Lies; the lies of the enemy, which often attacks our minds and thought life. Which is why it is so crucial to know the Word and the truth.
Freedom from worry, doubt and rejection, envy, jealousy and bitterness.
And freedom from our fleshly selves; self-pity, self-loathing and selfish ambition.
Freedom To
Let’s turn our hearts toward Jesus and set our thoughts on things above. May we be free to know our creator and be fully known by him.
Free to love him and serve him wholeheartedly; to follow him and his ways.
Freedom to say yes to him and no to other things that may lead us away from his best.
Free to dance, sing, write, create and dream with our Heavenly Father. Free to embrace and enjoy life.
Does this freedom mean we are free to do whatever we like? To satisfy our fleshly desires? No, for this will only end in heartache and away from the good plan he has for us.
Rather it is a Freedom birthed from grace to be free from anything that is not of Him. Free to embrace our God given identity, authority, rights and privileges as a child of God. Put your trust in Him, and you will be filled with unimaginable love, joy and peace.
“He who the son sets free, is free indeed (John chapter 8 verse 36).”
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and baby daughter. She loves to read and write, drink tea and spend time with her family.
Her archive of articles may be viewed at http://www.presserviceinternational.org/jo-fuller.html