We are lilies among thorns….

“Chains be broken…Lives be healed….Eyes be opened…Christ is revealed.”

As that song played during my drive home from my first evening with Scarlet Hope, I simply wept. As the tears flowed down my face I couldn’t stop thinking about the chains in our lives…the shackles that hold us back from the ultimate calling our Father has for our lives.

How many times have you allowed a chain in your life to be intentionally ignored and allowed to stew and fester in your soul? How many times have you had a chain on your life that deep inside you think, “God can not break this.” Often, when we face the reality of our sins, our attitude says, “I don’t want to let go of this.”

I pray that each one of us acknowledge our chains, examine them, confess and repent of them and then allow our Sovereign Ruler to redeem us. His grace is enough. His grace and deliverance can take us out of anything and anywhere.

God introduced me to D, a beautiful young woman who was on her fifth night at the club. The main reason she was dancing was to save money to get back into school. She opened up to me and told me about her two year old son and his father, her boyfriend.  D loves her boyfriend and they’re trying to make it work. Her boyfriend had a one night stand with their mutual friend several months ago and is now expecting a child in July. She is in a pit, a deep, dark pit and has covered it up by a beautiful smile and a cheerful personality. D wants to move forward. She desires to have stability with her son and the father of her child.

As I look back on our conversation I keep thinking of what is holding us down to the core of who we are? God has so much for D and He has so much for us. Facing those strongholds is like standing at a cliff of faith.  D is on the edge of a cliff and wants to jump, but is scared of the fall. Our Lord wants all of us to jump while trusting Him to catch us and take care of us. He is Rapha, our Healer. He will catch us, deliver us, and transform us into who He wants us to be.

I pray we all jump. I pray for everything that holds us down in this life to be broken before our God. Are you willing to jump? Do you want to jump? What is something that keeps you down – that you allow to keep down?  Do you in some way purposefully keep a chain for your own control, and undesired need to change or complete trepidation?

In the name of Jesus Christ, I claim victory and freedom from our bondage. Ease our fear, uncertainty and anxiety. Fill us with Your Word, Your Promise and Your Truth!

We are lilies among thorns….

By: Ellen B.