Where the Spirit of the Lord is

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

Where is the Spirit of the Lord?

Is there a place where He is not? Where can you go to flee from His presence? Whether you are on the far side of the sea, in the heights or the depths, God is there.

So why is it that so many do not walk in freedom but instead are in bondage? Why are people everywhere bound by fears, shame, guilt and strongholds?

The Spirit of the Lord will not force Himself into your heart and life. Though He is there and though He is able, He will not push Himself on you. Instead we must realize that God’s promise is an invitation. An invitation to trust. An invitation to rest. The Spirit of freedom is also the Spirit of rest and the Spirit of adoption and the Spirit of forgiveness but invites us with His Word of love and mercy, instead of forcing us.

Recognize that His invitation does come with a warning, because He is the Spirit of grace and of truth. So in grace and loving kindness He invites us, but with His power, wisdom and holiness, He also warns us of all that will come to pass if we continue on our own path.

God is the proclaimer of life and hope and freedom. And He leads us along paths of righteousness for His name sake. Indeed His Word (and words) are a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and they lead us to victory and deliverance. But we must heed the call. We must abandon the routes of our own choosing. We must forsake the vain efforts we have made to somehow pick the locks that have kept us chained and realize that He holds the keys to our chains. He will set the captive free. And we can walk in complete liberty in Christ.

Will you heed the call of God? Will you let Him set you free? He can do it even now. He is willing. He is able. He is present and ready to save. So if you simply can’t forgive that offense, or if you have no strength over your addiction, or if you can’t love that person after all they have done or if all hope is gone and everything is overwhelmingly impossible: let the call of God lead you to complete freedom in Christ! His freedom is real, and is available to all who will stop striving and just trust. He died on the cross to set us free from sin and sin’s curse. Ask God to use His strength and His keys to unshackle you. And then get up out of that cell and walk free and keep in step with His Spirit of freedom!!