Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Think

"You weren't set free so you could run back to your chains." Imagine what it was like to be a slave. Fortunately, the majority of us have never had this experience. But if you think about it, we do know what it feels like to be a slave to something. "What if I'm not good enough?" A slave to insecurity. "I won't be happy until I have that." A slave to materialism. "I won't rest until they pay for what they did." A slave to unforgiveness. When Jesus gave his life for you, he was offering you freedom from all of that so you don't have to be bound or defined by it any more. The ultimate freedom to say, "God could not love me any more or any less. I am enough and he will give me all I need. I can leave the past behind and look forward to a great future!" So breathe in your newfound freedom and go do something positive with it. Don't use this freedom as a pass to do things that'll end up making you feel like a slave again. Would a freed slave run back to their former master? Heck, no! Don't look back! Begin writing a new chapter in your life. That's what Jesus intended for you!

Act

Take a sheet of paper and write down everything you feel like a slave to right now - things you're worried about, things you regret. Write it all down AND THEN RIP IT UP! This is the picture of the ultimate freedom Jesus has given you! Then, write down on a second sheet of paper things you want God's help with overcoming so that you don't keep running back to the people and things that will make you feel like a slave all over again.

Pray

God, thank you for setting me free once-and-for-all from everything that could ever separate me from your love and purpose. Help me to spend this gift of freedom in a way that honors you, so others see what living a life of ultimate freedom truly looks like. In Jesus' name, Amen.