Freedom in Christ

How blessed are we? Christians, a group of christ-followers, are given the AMAZING opportunity to know God. Not only to know of him, but actually know him and be with him and be loved by him. When I'm at school or in a public place I look around at all the people and wonder. Do they know the Lord? What are they struggling with inside? I wonder how people get through stuff without God to help them out. I wonder how people can chose not to know God. It honestly breaks my heart to think of people not knowing our creator. It has brought me more joy and fulfillment than anything on this earth ever could. I am continually in awe of the power God has and how he blesses me.

The biggest thing that held me back from deciding to go after the Lord with everything I had was when I realized that I needed to give everything up. Partying, swearing, gossiping, boys, etc. Now, not saying I'm perfect and don't do any of those things anymore, but I'm saying that the things that people consider "fun," are not what God considers good. I wanted to remain partly in the world as well as in the kingdom of God. I realized the hard way that you can't have both. But after I decided not to be of this world, all that "fun" stuff no longer seemed fun. God has created life in such a way that we don't need those things to be happy. When we chose to utilize the freedom he's made for us, we are capable of living life the way God planned it out, which is FAR better than anything we could try to do.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:16-23

I'd challenge you to examine yourself. Take a good look at the things you're finding fulfillment in, the things you are doing to have fun or be happy. I need to consistantly do this in order to keep my mind focused on the Lord. The path is narrow and it's easy to take a step off it, but if you keep your head up and open your eyes to the things in your life, it will be much easier. God offers us complete freedom in him. No longer to we have to be slaves to the sin of this world. The emptiness in our hearts can only be filled by God, so we need to quit trying to fill it with other things.

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:32