15 of My Favorite Things About Spiritual Freedom

In America, we’re gearing up for the fourth of July to remember and celebrate liberty as a country. But sometimes we take our spiritual freedom for granted. 

So when I read a letter John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, about Independence Day in 1776, I found this interesting.

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” (Wikipedia, emphasis added)

Like Adams, many of our founding fathers looked to God for “the day of deliverance.” Likewise, we looked to God for our day of deliverance—our spiritual freedom.

My day of deliverance happened at sixteen-years-old; the Lord delivered me from sin and spiritual death giving me eternal life—something worth remembering and celebrating. 

Accepting grace became my first act of devotion to God Almighty.

So let’s look at 15 of my favorite ways we are free in Christ.

Spiritual Freedom in Christ

(1.) Jesus frees us from spiritual captivity. “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 (NIV)

(2.) Real freedom comes when the Son sets us free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (ESV)

(3.) True freedom means nothing masters us. (see 1 Corinthians 6:12)

(4.) Seeking God’s precepts helps us walk in freedom. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalm 119:45 (NIV)

Seeking God’s precepts helps us walk in freedom. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalm 119:45 (NIV) Share on X

(5.) Called to freedom to love and serve. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 (NASB)

Freedom For Holiness

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4 Reasons Our Hope Lies in Christ Alone

There’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope.

In tragedy, it is there. During dark moments, it covers with light. It soars above despair.

Life brings hurt, heartache, and disappointment. Hard places can dissolve every ounce of faith. 

But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for our soul.

So, there’s a reason I named this blog community, Hope is Among Us. Why? Because I encourage a fresh perspective on hope based on biblical truths.

“For whatever was written in the former days was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV)

As the unexplainable happens in life, there are promises that bring hope near. Hope that’s real. And it’s only found in One, Jesus Christ.

Now let’s look at 4 reasons our hope lies in Christ alone. 

Life brings hurt, heartache, and disappointment. Hard places can dissolve every ounce of faith. But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for our soul. Hope in Christ alone. Share on X

H – Hope has a name, Jesus.  

Hope’s birth took place in a lowly stable. Hope grew into a man and carried out the heavenly Father’s will.

Jesus came to die for me and for you—for our salvation and the salvation of all willing to embrace real Hope in the Lamb of God.

God sent Jesus from the throne room of heaven to take our place. Beaten, bruised, and pierced with nails, His blood spilled on a cross. And He bestowed forgiveness on us to cover our sins.

Jesus saves us from condemnation, wrath, ourselves, other gods, and eternal death. But salvation also brings new and abundant life with Jesus as the Savior of our souls and a spiritual way of life.

Jesus is our hope for this life and the next.

Jesus is our hope for this life and the next. Share on X

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:13 (ESV, emphasis added)

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Someone Worth Finding: A Father Who Found Me

“I love you.” His voice reassured as he tenderly kissed my forehead. He had found me.

Hopeful imagination of my biological father. A time he was absent in my life. A girl can dream.

My being so young and the passing of time had a way of causing memories to escape. I had forgotten what he was like. I knew he was out there somewhere. And I hoped to be found by my father.

My mother’s hands were full with me and my twin sister. So, she scooped everything up—including us—and moved from Texas to her hometown in Virginia.

Soon we were fortunate to have a wonderful stepfather come into our lives. A man who cared for and loved us as if we were his own daughters. To this day, I’m grateful for him.

But I’d seen my birth certificate.

The document contained everything, with no empty spaces or blank lines. Every section complete and filled in with facts and x’s: names and numbers, places and times, signatures and dates. 

Yet sometimes x’s only mark the spot where hurt dwells.

Line seven of my birth certificate held a name. But my life held a blank space and my heart an empty place. The place meant for a biological father.

And something caught my attention when comparing my birth certificate to my kid’s certificates years later. My children’s certificates of live birth list the mother’s name first, directly following child’s name.

However, my birth certificate from The Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, lists the father’s name first, directly following my name.

To Know a Father

I wanted to know my father. Would I be a daddy’s girl? I wondered if I could sit in his lap or if he wore cologne. Maybe he would hoist me to his shoulders so I had a better view of animals at the zoo.

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7 Truths From the Bible to Know Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. 

Love is one of those hard to define terms we overuse and misuse. Instead of like, we use love for everything from possessions and food to our favorite sports teams and celebrities.

Honestly, I use love to describe my affections for cinnamon rolls, pasta, Chai tea lattes, boots, the Hallmark Channel, and sunsets. 

And in life’s hard moments, we may lose the loving feeling. For me, abandonment extinguished the emotion when my dad vanished from my life for a few years.

Sometimes love fades when hearts break. My heart broke after friendships dissolved and family members died including a baby in utero. I lost hope in love.

Jesus Loves Me

And all the moments I felt unlovable? Now I know how much Jesus loves me. If you know my story, then you know I felt unlovable for years. Watch the short storyline video on my home page.

But the love of Jesus brings us out of the darkness and into God’s marvelous light. We find hope for true love in the kind of love that goes to the cross.

Maybe, like me, at some point you questioned if anyone really loves you. But the greatest love story ever told is also our love story if we know Jesus. 

So, put to rest, once and for all, any doubt about God’s love, never question if Jesus loves me.

Scripture gives us the truths about the love of Jesus.

1.) I am loved: Jesus Loves Me

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV)

Receive God’s truth:  I am loved. The Bible tells me so. 

I am loved. The Bible tells me so. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV) Share on X Read More…

Not Separating God’s Goodness From His Holiness

Do you hear people separating how God is good from His holiness?

During college, I worked at a jewelry store in a local mall. So I learned the cuts and facets of diamonds and other gems. The multi-faceted parts of these stones make each one brilliant and stunning.

In the same way, God bears many characteristics as God. But we often only focus on the feel-good parts of God’s character. Like how God is good and loving, but not how He is also holy and just.

Yet, all the attributes of God working together are what make Him God. Each fascinating facet of the Almighty makes His glory brilliant and stunning.

When we practice separating His goodness from His holiness or His love from His justice, we lose the full nature God. 

In essence, we detach who He is from what He does. But the two are one and the same. 

Good and loving and holy and just are not only who the Lord is, but also what He does! 

Do you hear people separating God's goodness from His holiness? Even believers may focus on the feel-good parts of God's character, how He is good and loving. But God is also holy and just. Share on X

Not Separating God’s goodness

Since the beginning of time, God’s goodness is weaved throughout the chapters of His-story. It started with creation when He saw everything He made was good. 

Goodness is seen when God rescued His people. It’s revealed in Bethlehem’s stable and narrated in Jesus’ ministry. It’s told at the foot of a bloody cross and reported as a victor in an empty tomb.

Now, we see His goodness in our lives through every blessing and promise of Scripture. We are living testimonies to God’s goodness.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” Psalm 27:13 (ESV)

God is good and does good. (Psalm 119:68)

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