The devil won’t bother you while you’re living in sin, but he’ll bother you when you’re trying to get out.

Breaking free (aka) getting out from sin generally involves a conscious effort to recognize and resist temptation, as well as a commitment to live according to the word of God. It requires hunility, self-reflection, self-discipline, and support from others fellow believers (James 5:16).

Breaking free from sin involves confessing our sins to God (1 John 1:9), seeking forgiveness (1 Chronicles 7:14), and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14) to resist temptation (James 4:7) and live a purposed driven life (Jeremiah 29:13).

Breaking free from sin requires a willingness to examine one’s thoughts and actions, identify areas where improvement is needed, and taking the appropriate steps towards positive change. It may also involve seeking guidance from spiritual leaders, participating in support groups, or engaging in practices such as prayer or self-reflection. Ultimately, breaking free from sin is a personal journey that requires God’s help, commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to grow and change. Paul reminded us in Roman’s 12:2 to live a transformed life in Christ. The NLT put it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

If you want to break free today the first step is to open your heart and mouth and humbly approach God’s throne room of grace and tell Him what He already knows about you!

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#breakingfree

Our brother Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,d but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

When Paul said he was “forgetting those things which are behind,” he referred to not looking back at past relationships, memories, failures, temptations, or anything that might distract from a single-minded focus on “the upward call of God in Christ.” To inspire his audience, Paul drew on the image of an athlete running a race with uncompromising determination to reach the finish line and win the prize. The New Living Translation renders the passage like this: “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

“Forgetting what is behind” is Paul’s way of saying, “Don’t look back! Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t let anything behind you interfere with your present progress or future efforts.” Personal growth as a believer was a constant priority in Paul’s life. He strained with every fiber of his being to keep moving forward to win the prize for which God had called him.

That said, I don’t know who this word of encouragement is speaking to today, but if that’s you let me remind you that holding onto emotions like bitterness and unforgiveness can slow you down and even keep you locked in the past. Rehearsing conflicts and rehashing hurtful episodes will only open old wounds. Our brother Peter urged us to be done with these things: “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment” (1 Peter 2:1–2, NLT).

At the end of the day, the Christian life is lived with our eyes facing forward on Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate priority that makes our lives worth living. Our highest goal is to know Him better, as Paul said: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Philippians 3:10).

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#pressingforward

Letting go of fear and doubt can be a difficult but rewarding process. The Bible is filled with people that struggled with fear and doubt, but by God’s grace, design, and divine intervention they each learned how to overcome these two critically damaging and debilitating emotions. One verse that always comes to mind when I struggle with these two emotions is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 and Paul wrote, “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power, love, and self-control.”

My brothers and sisters, as many of you know, fear and doubt can hold you back from achieving your goals and living your lives to the fullest (John 10:10). Let’s be honest, no one truly endeavors to live a unrewarding life.

That being said, if I am speaking to you today, I want to give you 5 tips that I believe will help you break free from these two crippling emotions:

1. Recognize your fears and doubts. The first step in letting go of fear and doubt is to acknowledge them. Take some time to identify the specific fears and doubts that are holding you back.
2. Challenge your fears and doubts. Once you’ve identified your fears and doubts, it’s important to challenge them. Ask yourself if they’re really based in reality, or if they’re simply holding you back from taking action. Try to find evidence that contradicts your fears and doubts.
3. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can help you stay present in the moment and avoid getting caught up in fearful or doubtful thoughts. Try practicing meditation, deep breathing exercises, or other mindfulness techniques.
4. Take action. One of the best ways to overcome fear and doubt is to take action. Start small, and gradually build up your confidence as you achieve small successes. Remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process, and it’s okay to make mistakes.
5. Seek support. Join a life group. Don’t be afraid to seek support from others. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you to pursue your goals. Consider seeking the help of a therapist or counselor if you’re struggling to overcome your fears and doubts on your own.

I hope this helps and I pray that God gives you the faith, strength, and wisdom to loose the grip of faith over your life. Jesus said in Matthew 16:19 (AMP), ““Whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”

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#lettinggoandlettingfaith

It’s important to recognize that everyone experiences difficult seasona in their lives, and it’s okay to not feel okay sometimes. It’s important to acknowledge and accept our emotions, rather than suppressing them or pretending everything is fine. By doing so, we can take steps to address our issues and work towards feeling better. Seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals can also be helpful. Remember, it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to ask for help when we need it.

The Apostle Paul, illustrated this often neglected principle when he tells of a man who was caught up to the third heaven and saw and heard indescribable things. This man was remarkably privileged, and it seems apparent in the context that Paul is talking about himself. He adds that, because of the greatness of the revelations he was given, he was also given a thorn in his flesh that would keep him from exalting himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). While Paul tells us very little about the nature of this “thorn” (what he also refers to as a messenger from Satan), he makes clear that its purpose was to help ensure his humility. Paul pleaded with God three times to remove the encumbrance and God repeatedly said no to Paul’s requests. God’s response to Paul is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Sometimes God uses our difficulties to bring us to the point of humility, submission, and contentment. However, this is where and when God deposits His perfecting power! Hence my point, it’s ok not to be ok because God’s power is at work in every uncomfortable and difficult season.

Additionally and lastly, Paul illustrated this same concept in Philippians 4:11–13. He explained that he had learned how to be content in any circumstance no matter how severe. During seasons of incredible highs and also defeating lows, Paul discovered that contentment doesn’t come from circumstances—contentment comes from recognizing that we can do whatever God intends for us to do through Christ who strengthens us. God is so gracious to provide strength (power) when it is needed so that we can find our identity, our confidence, humility, and our contentment in Him. This is what God meant when He said that His grace is sufficient—it is all we need.

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#itsokaytonotbeokay

I wanted to take a few moments to remind you that you are stronger than you think. God commanded us in Joshua 1:9 to, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Oftentimes, difficulties, challenges, and/or obstacles in life makes us feel overwhelmed and doubt our ability to overcome them. But I want you to know that you always have God on your side and He has given you the inner strength, pace, wisdom, patience, and resilience to face any challenge that comes your way.

Here’s the deal, even if you don’t feel strong right now, remember that strength is not just about physical ability. It’s about trusting that God has given you the ability through the Holy Spirit to persevere in the face of adversity to keep going when things get tough, and to believe in yourself even when others don’t. James 1:2-4 confirms, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So, don’t underestimate God, yourself, or your God given abilities. You have the power within you to overcome any obstacle and to achieve your goals. Trust God, be strong, believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals, and keep moving forward, and always remember your greatest blessing is always in front of you so be bless on purpose!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#GodIsWithYou