Broken Bars

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. Leviticus 26:13

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for a long time.

One day is actually too much.

But God rescued them, bringing them out of slavery under Moses’ leadership.

God broke the bars of their yoke, which was incredibly heavy as slaves.

He freed them, causing them to lose not only their yoke, but instead walk completely upright.

They were no longer prisoners.

One can only walk upright without a burden on their back.

Ever tried to carry something heavy or awkward?

We usually stoop at least a bit.

Or what about internal burdens not physically seen?

Those are usually bigger.

The pressures and weight cause us to walk around slightly hunched, eyes downward, gloom written on our faces.

Even our eyes look sad when we are under the yoke of burdens, which become our prison as we constantly feel the pressures, not aware of any escape.

God reminds us in Leviticus of His deliverance from slavery. Of the prison the Israelites were dwelling.

And He also reminds us He has broken the bars of that yoke, allowing us to walk uprightly.

Do you want to walk uprightly as one who has received God’s peace and strength?

Eager to break out of your prison?

Have you given your burdensome yoke to God?

Those pressing situations causing you to stoop over with anxiety or fear?

He wants to break your yoke, allowing you to walk out of your prison, into the freedom He has for you.

As you release all things to God, He will straighten your back, causing a smile to spread across your face.

Walk uprightly. Smile. Look others in the eyes.

You are God’s beloved one. He has your life in His hands.

And He has all the stuff you worry about, too.

When you place your trust in God for not only your salvation, but your life here on earth as well, your prison doors are opened.

Give God your relationships, your jobs, your addictions, your future, and more.

And don’t allow that yoke to reattach as worry and fear begin creeping back into control.

God is more powerful than your burden.

Allow Him to take it off.

He’ll even help you with the transfer.

Now don’t worry about where He put it.

Just pray and trust Him instead.

Doesn’t it feel great to stand tall again?

Photos by Artem BeliaikinDaniel BornDaniel Krueger , & Ben White on Unsplash

Perfect Deliverance

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

I don’t know about you, but I find this absolutely incredible.

If we ask, God will deliver us from our fears.

God, who created all things, will answer us, providing us freedom from our fears.

What are your fears?

Fear of the uncertain future?

Fear of a certain person and their reactions to you?

Fear of messing up, not being perfect?

Fear of people knowing the real you?

Fear of rejection?

We all were created for love, so not finding acceptance is huge.

Psalm 34 reminds us we must seek God first.

God gives us a choice to seek Him or not.

But when we seek God, He will answer us.

He’s alive, wanting a relationship with us.

That’s why He created you.

Delivering us from all our fears sounds great.

Here’s the thing, though.

When God answers you, delivering you from fear, you have a choice to go back or not.

Satan tempts us with the same fears as he knows us and our weaknesses.

He desperately wants to keep you sucked in with fear.

Paralyzed even.

Every time you are tempted with that fear, you must not open your hands to receive it.

You must cling to God’s promises, rejecting the lies Satan provides through fear.

Call on God and He will answer you, freeing you from ALL your fears.

Keep calling on God to help you and He will.

Whenever you call on Him, He will be there for you.

In fact He’ll never leave. 🙂

Photos by Jeremy HynesJoshua HoehneNic Berlin, & Rafaëlla Waasdorp on Unsplash

Known

Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. 1 Kings 8:56

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How is God known?

Through the things that don’t make sense in our lives.

Through the trust we show when the next step we cannot see.

Through His grace demonstrated in us each and every day.

Through His love poured out from our fingertips to others.

Through His peace we feel while tossed to and fro.

Through His forgiveness we give to those who’ve deeply hurt us.

Through the giving we provide to those who lack.

Through the servant we become when thinking more of others.

Through the prayers we pray and the answers that surprise us.

Through the deliverance of trauma, healing the holes left behind.

Through the wisdom we have when asking God for help.

Through coming out on the other side of life’s trauma.

And living, not dying from it.

God is known through our Bible reading, our praying, our worship, and our very lives.

Each and every day, God is known through the big and small things.

How well do you know Him?

Well, I hope.

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Photos by Marlon LangoniH A M A N N, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash