I remember my first and only cruise during a celebration of a child’s graduation.  I did not realize that the delicious and decadent food came with the price of the cruise, and you could have as much as you wanted.  I was holding back and worried about the cost.  Once someone told me that it came with the cost of the trip, freedom to enjoy and indulge began to guide my actions and thoughts!  Freedom!

Jesus has paid the price and is calling us out of the bondage of scarcity and not enough.  I’m not talking about material wealth, a job promotion, or over-eating!  I’m talking about spiritual healing and the abundance and freedom that is found in His love.  We do not realize the abundance of what He has to offer—we just can’t believe it, so we don’t partake.  We keep waiting for the “catch”.

God is calling me to believe, accept, and practice through a great devotional book called, “A Guide for Listening and Inner-Healing Prayer:  Meeting God in the Broken Places” by Rusty Rustenbach.  This guide calls us to a prayer time of listening–being still before God.  As we talk to Jesus about the lies we have believed about ourselves and the world around us, we listen for His Truth to reframe and heal.

2 Corinthians Chapter 3: 7-18 was a resting place for me, and Jesus opened my eyes and heart.  The glory of the new covenant through the work of Jesus is FREEDOM!

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰ For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Jesus,

Help me turn to you—TRUTH!  Only in you are the lies taken away.  May I call upon your Spirit of truth and live in freedom.  I must contemplate, read, acknowledge Your Word and promises in my life, so that I can be transformed into your image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from You alone.  I am your child.  I am completely loved with no exceptions.  I am worthy of this love, and I am Yours alone.  I belong to You.  I can completely trust You in my transformation process.  Amen

Jesus Culture:  Freedom Reigns