July 4th // Freedom

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:12

Healing brings freedom.

Healing through Christ brings freedom.

I know this is a classic American thing to post today. Something about freedom. But, freedom in Christ is different.

When I was struggling with all my addictions, those held me back from actually being free. I didn't have healing, I had shame. Shame was the thing that held me back from getting healed. I never thought Christ wanted me because I added scars on my body that were never supposed to be there.

The truth is, Christ wants us. He wants us to come to Him.

He doesn't want us to live with shame. He wants to heal us from our shame and give us freedom.

Freedom in Christ means living in your calling and being true to yourself. It's being exactly who you are. It's being exactly who God created you to be. It's living and not caring what people think because you know what God thinks.

You are so valuable. Go to Him. Let Him take the shame you carry. Live in freedom.

Prayer // Dear Lord Jesus, thank you  for the chance of freedom. Thank you for taking my shame away. You died on the cross for me so that I don't have to live in shame, I can live in freedom. I love you, Lord. Amen.

July 3rd // Prayer

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call

for the elders of the church, and let them pray

over him, anointing him with oil in the name

of the Lord."

James 5:14

Prayer is so important in any kind of sickness. Sometimes it's hard to pray if we are being honest. It's hard to hear a response from God most days. But, I promise He is listening.

Another thing, sometimes His answer will be a no. It's not because He hates us, because I promise you He is in love with us, but sometimes He has to say no, or even not yet. Praying does not automatically give you a yes from God. Just because we prayed to win money, doesn't mean God wants us to have that and that's okay.

I believe I get bitter about prayer and even asking for prayer. I have a church family that I know if I ask for prayer that they just won't go home and pray for me, but right then and there they will pray for me.

The Bible tells us to get prayer from our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we are too ashamed because what we need healing for is too embarrassing or we aren't going through anything "that bad." All of His children need to pray for each other. When one is sick, when one is hurting, the whole body is hurting.  

Please do not be afraid to ask form prayer. It is so valuable. More people coming to agreement with you and going before God asking Him these things.

You are so worth people praying for.

Prayer // Dear Lord Jesus, I am sorry for not trusting you and talking to you. I'm sorry for not telling people when I need prayer. I know it's important and I know prayer is so valuable. I understand that I am apart of the body and when I am hurt, the whole body is hurt. Praying for others is important, as well as asking for prayer. I lift up my friends today. As well as myself. Amen.

July 2nd // He Took It All

"Yet He Himself bore our sickness,

and He carried our pains;

but we turn regarded Him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But, He was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on Him,

and we are healed by His wounds."

Isaiah 53:4-5

If you don't get anything out of this today except one thing, I hope it's the words "we are healed by His wounds."

When I was in the middle of my self harm addiction I heard this statement, "Jesus bled for us, so we don't have too." And that is still true today.

This life is hard, God never promised it would be easy, because if it was easy, we wouldn't need God. But, here we are, in need of a Savior to heal all of our wounds.

God so gracefully sends His Son down to die on the cross for us. He just does it, He's nailed onto the cross and just thinks about you. He did that because He loves you so much.

God doesn't want us to have pain, that was not apart of His original plan. But, sin entered the world, and we struggle so much with pain, shame, wounds, addictions, and so much more. Then God sent Jesus and Jesus went to the cross. I don't know what you are going through, but think about a nail going through your hand, your feet. Ouch, right?

That's exactly what Jesus did for us. He did not want us to go through any pain at all, so He took the most pain for us.

God healed our wounds with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Prayer // Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for taking my death. Thank you for making me brand new - white as snow. Because of You, I get to live free. I am healed from my sin because of You. You are good and You will never fail me.

July 1st // Trusting Him

"But, I will bring you health

and heal you of your wounds -

this is the Lord's declaration."

Jeremiah 30:17

Let's read that again.

This month, when I was going over on what the first set of devotionals should be about, I thought of healing. Now, I have never been sick, I mean I have gotten a cold, but not sick, like I will die if I don't get healed.

But, I do struggle with mental illness - anxiety and depression. I also struggled with addictions. Addictions like, self harm, an eating disorder, and porn. All of these things hurt me, and my trust.

I feel like, our trust is broken a lot when we come to God, because well, He didn't do this for me at this time, so how can I trust Him.

But, read that verse -

"But, I will BRING you health

and HEAL you of your wounds..."

All of His promises our true. All of His promises, we can trust.

I was really hurt the past few years, if I never trusted God to take this hurt from me and heal my brokenness, I would still be hurt. Once I started declaring that God is who He says He is - almighty, powerful, strong, all around, loving, kind, father - I started to see what He can do and what He has already done.

Because, sometimes we have to see that our full healing won't happen on earth. What He has promised is that His children will be in Heaven with Him when we die. In Heaven there will be no sickness, no mental illness, and no hurt.

There will be more sickness, and more hurt here on earth - but, we can trust that God can heal these wounds we are carrying. Because that is the promise that He made. So, whatever you are holding onto right now, whatever the sickness or hurt you aren't handing over to God, give it to Him. That sickness, has to bow down. That hurt, has to bow down.

"You hold all authority, sin and sickness bow their knee, there is none like You, You are worthy." // The Belonging Co - Greater Than All

Prayer // Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your promises. They are true. I can trust them. You never promised this life would be easy, and it won't be when I'm walking with you. You had many trials living on earth. But, I trust that you are with me and I know that my sickness, my wounds, my hurt, all of that has to bow down before you. Because, you are who you say you are - almighty, powerful, strong, all around, loving, kind, father. I give you all my sickness, I give you all my wounds, I trust that you will make me complete. I trust that you will heal me."