Can I really be Free?

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

 ~II Corinthians 3:17

“God’s ultimate goal is maturing us into who he says we are, & then releasing us into the dreams he designed for us before the world began.. When we swim in the ocean of God’s grace, we can’t help but respond with playful abandon..We will burst into song at inappropriate times, dance, play, serve, fall on our knees in worship, give our lives away, & embrace each other. We’ll sin less. We’ll love more. We are free.”

~TrueFaced

photo credit

My friend, Shannon, who has been an amazing gift since she became my co-worker in ministry and very good friend posted the above quote on her facebook tonight (thanks Shan!). I. LOVE. IT!

We had our semi-annual Worldwide Day of Prayer for Campus Crusade for Christ this week.  It is always such a blessing and this year was the most powerful for me.  We heard about believers (our co-laborers) in countries where they are beaten and in exile for their faith and prayed fervently for them.  We saw a video from Japan and tears flowed from my eyes as a Japanese staff worker shared about the reminder that God has not forgotten her homeland…‘Greater things are yet to come’ filled our ears as we saw the lost~ness amidst the devastation.  The unwavering faith and courage of so many of my brothers and sisters moved me to tears often.  It is an exceeding honor and privilege to pray hard for them!

But the day did not begin with a dive into intercession for the world.  It began with a devotion the Vice President of North America’s Campus Crusade, Steve, gave–sharing powerfully from his heart.  He called us all to not lose that simplicity of relationship with the Living God.  We are redeemed in Christ for relationship with God and to pursue Him above all else.

This filled my heart and in a following time of silent meditation, I asked the Lord to give me a picture of His desires for me.  He gave the picture of a field and me as a barefoot girl dancing and basking in the sun and just radiating JOY!

This quote is a perfect reminder of this picture. 

In these days, friends,

I FIGHT FOR JOY. 

I ASK TO KNOW THIS FREEDOM. 

I PLEAD FOR A VERY SENSITIVE SPIRIT TO KNOW WHAT BINDS ME AND TO RELEASE IT.

I WANT TO RUN AND DANCE IN THESE DAYS!.

Stress simply does not glorify Him.  I am prone to worry and stress and there’s A LOT going on

BUT, I KNOW, EVEN IN THESE DAYS, EVEN AND ESPECIALLY HERE, HE WANTS TO LAVISH ME WITH LOVE AND FILL ME WITH JOY AND A GLORIOUS FREEDOM TO LIVE AND LOVE AND BE HIS!

SIMPLY HIS.  FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER HIS!!!

Will you pray for me?  with me?  Will you purpose to be free?  I KNOW He wants it for you too.

^“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners”

~Isaiah 61:1

Linking with these who I LOVE! speaking words and life that FREES…