31 Days of Victory:{Day 3}The Gospel of Freedom

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

2 Corinthians 3:17 

As I sat kneeling at the altar that hazy, Sunday morning, I wept. I felt like a tsunami of oppression had just swallowed me. I knew God was the answer but I just couldn’t figure out how to find Him in the middle of it all. It seemed as though I was miles away from the One who offers hope and there was no lifeboat in site.

Suddenly, a gentle hand touched my back while sweet whispers of a prayer were uttered, too quietly for me to understand. I slowly opened my eyes to turn and see the face of my intercessor. It was a friend, one who I loved and respected. She knew I was going through it, but I had never been able to tell her, or anyone else, about all of it. I was too scared to share my truth. What if I was rejected? What if I became an outcast? What if there was no hope for me? ... And then, with a soft smile, she said it—words that would stick with me for years to come.

“The Spirit of the Lord is saying that you have been given freedom. 

You just need to walk in it.”

Somehow her words brought life to my dying spirit. But what did they mean? If I had been given freedom, why did I feel like a captive? And how would I even begin to walk in this freedom, which I knew nothing about? My questions would soon be answered.

In the following months of inner battle I reflected often on the words of hope that were spoken to me at the altar. With each passing day their truth began to take shape—the shape of a cross. 

My mind would flash back to the countless Easter Sunday’s in which I sat in the pew of a jam-packed sanctuary, watching a dramatic reenactment of the death of Christ and His glorious resurrection. I remembered wondering about the purpose of it all. 

Youth leaders and pastors would say over and over that Jesus loved me and He died for my sins. But as far as I can remember, no one ever explained to me what that actually meant. According to my young mind it was just a cool Bible story—one that I could articulate well to others without even grasping the weight of its promise.

The gospel [death, burial and resurrection] of Jesus Christ can be simplified as The Great Exchange. He took on death so that we might have life abundantly. He became cursed so that we might be blessed. If you're like me, you've heard the story of the cross more times than you can count. But today, I pray that God allows you to see this truth with a fresh revelation. 

When you place your faith in Jesus and repentantly accept the sacrifice that He made for you, you accept the promise of exchange:

Beauty instead of ashes

Joy instead of despair

Peace instead of chaos

Rest instead of restlessness

Security instead of fear
Forgiveness instead of condemnation

A sound mind instead of a depraved mind

Righteousness instead of shamefulness

Fellowship with God instead of separation from God

VICTORY instead of DEFEAT! 

Can you see the wonder of it all?

The devil would love nothing more than to convince you that the promises above are not a reality in order to keep you bound by the illusion of defeat. I'm writing to tell you the heavenly truth. Jesus already conquered whatever has been binding you. Freedom has been purchased. Don't believe the lie that freedom for you is the one exception to God's offer of freedom for all who believe in Him. The work is finished. So, my friend, today I share the same words of life with you that were once shared with me.

You have been given freedom. You just need to walk in it. 

Join me for the rest of the month as I share more on how to walk in the hope of God's faithful promises.


Victoriously,

Monique Zackery

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Click Below to visit the other "31 Days" Bloggers:
31 Days of HOPE
31 Days of FREEDOM
31 Days of PURPOSE
31 Days of WELLNESS: Mind, Body  & Spirit