Good Morning!

Just a thought to send you on your day today.

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

1 John 3:8b The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Jesus not only wants us to be free, but he has the capability to do so. In fact, if you are born-again, you already are free of the works of the devil. The problem is we don’t fully appreciate this, nor do we claim it. Perhaps we don’t even know that freedom is available to all who believe?

Do you have anything that bothers you?

Pride a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements…or from qualities or possessions….

Covetousness marked by inordinate (exceeding reasonable limits) desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions.

Lust very strong sexual desire

Anger a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.

Gluttony habitual greed or excess in eating.

Envy a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck.

Sloth disinclination to action or labor, spiritual apathy and inactivity

Those are the Seven Deadly Sins. Do you see any common thread? It’s the desire for things that don’t belong to you. If we consider that even our talents are gifts from God, we have no reason for pride. When we consider that God provides all we need and also provides the desires of our hearts, we should have no reason to desire anything beyond that which he provides for each of us individually. Right?

How about this list? See anything that gives you more trouble than it should? I got these from https://moodlist.net/. There are plenty of positive moods, too.

Aggravated
Alone
Angry
Annoyed
Anxious
Apathetic
Ashamed
Bewildered
Blah
Bored
Brooding
Chaotic
Cold
Complacent
Complex
Confused
Cranky
Crushed
Cynical
Dark
Defensive
Delusional
Demented
Depressed
Devious
Dirty
Disappointed
Discontent
Drained
Drunk
Enraged
Envious
Exanimate
Exhausted
Fearful
Flirty
Forceful
Forgetful
Frustrated
Full
Gloomy
Groggy
Grumpy
Guilty
Heartbroken
Hungry
Hyper
Impatient
Indifferent
Infuriated
Intense
Irate
Irritated
Jealous
Lazy
Lethargic
Listless
Lonely
Lost
Mad
Melancholy
Mischievous
Moody
Morbid
Morose
Naughty
Numb
Paranoid
Perplexed
Pessimistic
Predatory
Psychotic
Quixotic
Rapturous
Rebellious
Recumbent
Rejected
Restless
Restricted
Rushed
Sad
Scared
Scatterbrained
Shattered
Shocked
Sick
Sleepy
Sorry
Strange
Stressed
Tired
Uncomfortable
Unwanted
Violated
Wistful
Worthless

These are all common to the human condition. Yet, how many times can we say we have been preoccupied with emotions like these? Maybe people may define us by one or more of these moods. That’s not the way it should be. Let me give you just two verses as an example that God provides relief for all these things:

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Are you living in bondage? None of us are living a completely free life, so don’t kid yourself. You know what burdens you. Imagine if that was gone! Here’s the cool news: it can be! Yes, it may take work. Yes, you may need help. Yes, you may need drastic action. Then, again, maybe all you need is one prayer for obedience. Our Father desires us to be free of sin, and Jesus is our key.

Take advantage, my friends.

Father, encourage your flock. Amen.

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers