2 Corinthians 3:17 Ezekiel 36:26 Galatians 5:1 Galatians 5:13

The totally rad video for this post is down at the bottom because I want you to read this first. There is one very, very important thing you need to know about the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Notice that there are no qualifications to this statement. If we believe Scripture is the Word of God, then we can claim the truth that in the Spirit there is FULL FREEDOM ‐ from anxiety, fear, habitual sin, unforgiveness, complacency, etc. [insert whatever you want].

In my personal experience and in ministry to others, I have not found another verse needed more often than this one. I believe we have so many chains from the culture holding us down from living a true life of freedom! Chains of brokenness, addiction, hurt, suffering, loss, anger, attachment, comparison, the never‐enough lies... The list goes on.

We need this message of freedom from Corinthians! So I have a very direct, personal question for you: What chains hold you down? What is cutting into you as you try to move forward? Which ones are you afraid to let go? What chains are so heavy that you don't know how much longer you can bear their weight?

Are you ready and willing to be set free? The two videos at the end of this post are by my favorite Christian band, The Rend Collective Experiment. It's difficult to deny the joy and freedom that they possess! Here's a quote from the lyrics to the second video:

"It's only in surrender that I'm free! It's only in surrender that I'm truly free!"

In fact, so many of their songs speak of freedom (such as "Finally Free") that I'm convinced just listening to them will give people around the world hope that true freedom is possible. My own life is a testament to this freedom as well. As I mentioned previously, I've made my own fair share of poor choices and less‐than‐perfect friendships (more than I like to admit). Some of my mistakes I had to repeat before finally getting it through my head!

Thankfully, our dear Lord is ever patient and merciful... He's walked me through years of failure, learning, growing, forgiving, and healing. But it wasn't until I really surrendered to the Holy Spirit that my growth took off like a rocket ‐ I had the proper guidance of a priest and was able begin letting God replace my stony heart with a new one (Ezekiel 36:26).

I started to understand and seek his gifts, and I built a foundation of prayer. From the scriptures we know that the Holy Spirit is light and truth! And with the explosion of his love into my life, the darkness and lies were slowly pushed out by this light and truth. I believe this is why there is freedom in the Holy Spirit ‐ because the shrouds of darkness and the chains of sin and lies are cast away by the very nature of who the Holy Spirit is! If we have the Holy Spirit in us, he will make us free.

Don't settle for living a life chained to mediocrity. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with Light and Truth, to manifest his gifts in your heart, and to truly SET YOU FREE. Is this not why Jesus came? To set us free? Let's stop trying to do it all on our onw. Let Christ's Advocate, the Holy Spirit, do in your heart what he was sent here to do. May God bless you!