Freedom

Hey there blogger friends! I have a question for you...what does freedom in Christ look like/mean to you? I was chatting with some dear ladies last night and this subject came up. Each of us had something to add to the meaning, but in the end it all boiled down to the same two things. 1-Being able to thank God for your past (no matter what it looks like). And 2-Forgiveness, forgiving your self for whatever you may have done and also forgiving those who hurt you (no matter how deep the hurt). Lets talk about the first one-being thankful for your past. Some of us may have been able to get this far with not a whole lot of bad happening, but I feel as though you could probably look back and pick at least one thing you wish never would have happened (abuse, divorce, bad choices, addictions...). When I look at my past, I see a lot of sadness, hurt, abuse, bad choices, and the list goes on...but I also see Gods protection (yes even though a LOT of bad happened), Gods AMAZING grace, lessons learned, and as my dear friend Cindy would say "faith muscle building" opportunity, and honestly a whole lot more. I know I wouldn't be who I am or where I am without my past. Does our past define us? No! Praise God! But, if we let it, it can actually help us be a better person in Christ and help others in similar situations. Being thankful for our past is not saying what we did or what was done to us was okay. Its simply being able to look at the crap and being able to see the good in it. For me, I can look back and thank God for:1-Being with me each step of the way (even when I didn't know Him). 2-Bringing me out of the muck and mire. 3-Molding me into who He has made me to be because of it. 4-Giving me a story I can use for His glory..I could go on! Do you see where I'm going with this?! No matter how bad it was friends, He can use it. One of my favorite verses is found in Romans chapter 8 verse 28 and it goes like this, "And we know that in ALL things God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Do you see that, it even says it in the Bible-that He will work it out for the GOOD! Is it easy to be thankful for the yuckyness of our past? No. But if we started looking at it in a differnt light...not about us but about what God did through it, I believe it makes it easier to be thankful. I have challenge for you! Take some time, look back to whatever it may be and look for God in it...then thank Him! Praise Him for who He is and the work He has and continues to do in you. For me, once I took ME and I out of it and looked for HIM in it, it was a game changer.I pray that as you look for the amazing ways God weaved His grace and love through your past, your eyes and heart would be opened to a whole new and amazing God we are so lucky to have as a friend and father. The wonderful work He has, is, and continues to do in you is beautiful! I'll come back in a few days and talk about forgivness and what that looks like!