God uses life circumstances to teach Amy valuable lessons, and in turn, Amy shares her heart in her writing. She's been a contributor to Proverbs 31 newsletter and continues to expand her writing avenues. Everyday analogies between the physical world
and spiritual world inspire Amy to write and share Godly principles in a relevant and dramatic style. She lives and works in Ft. Worth, TX and is heavily involved in her church and close knit family.
It Calls for Freedom with Chains in Hand
By Amy Kidd
Just do it!
Have it Your Way Right Away!
Why Wait?
Do these phrases sound familiar? I can drive down I-30 this afternoon and discover there are so many things I need. I didn’t know I was so unhappy? According to the ads planted along the highway, I need to find love, eat more whaterburger, get my skin fixed, drive something sporty, get a breast enhancement job, lose more weight and have more beer so life we will be more fun and enjoyable.
As a Christian we are commanded not to conform to the pattern of this world but that can be so hard with so many cultural messages telling us a different story. God wants us to stay close to His path so we can walk in His beautiful will for our lives. In the fast and evolving world we constantly have to make more choices. I imagine a crossroads and the sign you can’t see says “Wicked, Twisted Road to the left and Life Abundantly the right.” Surrounding the path to the left are advertisements promising happiness, fulfillment and just plain fun! But the bottom of each sign there is a disclosure you can’t really read listing the hundreds of consequences that will occur eventually.
It’s like those quick disclosures at the end of drug company commercials. They cover their tracks by communicating as rapidly and quietly as possible the fact that you could, well, DIE from complications from this drug if you do not consult a physician. And so it is with the temporary pleasures of this world, although most of the time no one bothers to really tell you what could happen if you choose not to wait and to indulge right now. Why wait? I’ve heard that one a time or two. From the one night stand to that quick fix hit we all are tempted each day to make hasty decisions at the cost of an ego stroke and quick fix. Surely this will finally make me happy right?
I don’t think you will find the three phrases I first mentioned in the scriptures anywhere and yet we agree with them all the time in how we respond, what we invest in and how we live. The world calls out to each of us begging for us to give in to temporary pleasures, to make impulsive choices based on emotion rather than Godly wisdom; neglecting to remind us that it could cost us the course of our very lives. God doesn’t put restrictions on us to spoil our fun but to preserve our ultimate happiness. It’s like George Strait says, “There is a difference in living and living well.” He might be talking about finding that special someone but I know in my heart through experiencing heartache with men and the unbelievable filling of God’s love in my heart that it is God alone who really makes a life lived well.
When we trust in Him and walk closely with the only one who can really satisfy our longing hearts He never disappoints. His answers to our prayers may be no, yes or not yet; but you can trust he has your best interests at heart and is the very essence of love we long for. It is for freedom that Christ came-our freedom from strongholds and things that try to master us. One thing I have learned though Godly freedom is that what is permissible may not be beneficial. Small compromises when added up are not so small and can direct our lives without our permission. "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12
The bible has a question for you. “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” Isaiah 55:2 There are messages from ads, magazines, TV and movies constantly and intrusively telling you what you need and what you need NOW. These ads call for freedom. They say if you have this then you will be free, satisfied, fulfilled, happy, running your life and in control. In reality the only one not in control is you when you are being mastered by anything but God’s Spirit. The last thing any of these temptations bring is freedom. They want to enslave you. People do not get entangled in strongholds because someone said, “One day when I grow up I want to be an alcoholic, obsessed with pornography, overweight and sick, or in debt.” No, it is a slow and undetectable process the enemy of our souls has for centuries been scheming at. The world calls for freedom but as soon as you are close enough the chains are wrapped around your soul. Its end goal is bondage and you my friend become the fool.
So why do we spend our money on what does not satisfy? Somewhere along the way we are becoming convinced. The truth of Gods word takes a back seat to what everyone else is saying. And just who are “they” anyway? The bible gives us clear warnings about the enemy and his schemes, but we are not deceived if we know His word. 2 Corinthians 2:11 “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
Let me give you an example. Sexual innuendos are everywhere and nothing about them reminds you about the context in which God created sex. We don’t even get a message at the bottom of the screen stating, “Sexual activity with the opposite sex outside of marriage may result in years of heartache, unplanned children, sexual frustrations, damaged relationships going forward and maybe unwanted sexual diseases. Other side affects may include depression, stronger temptations in other areas of life, broken marriages and well, perhaps slavery in general.” God is all about sex, trust me, but He desires we have it in the context of marriage because it doesn’t bring about the “side effects” I just listed. This is just one example of the many ways the enemy of this world tries to enlist us in the army of hard knocks and regret.
I pray you will remember that there is “a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death” Proverbs 14:12 and that Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come to give you life and to give it in abundance”. John 10:10 He loves you. Will you consider the narrow road to the right when you come to that crossroad again? I promise He will not disappoint.
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
