Everybody has issues right? We're all dealing with something from our past, maybe our present that keeps us from experiencing the abundant life Jesus has for us. So how to we get past our issues?
First, we realize that Jesus died to set us free from every weapon of the enemy. Not just the visible enemies of sickness and poverty, but the silent killers...depression, anger, low self esteem, trust issues...whatever it is...Jesus has handled it.
Second, recognize that is Jesus has paid the price for my freedom, then walking around in bondage of any kind is unacceptable. Begin to expect freedom! Refuse to accept any issues as normal. According to Colossians 1:13-14, those who accept Jesus are translated out of darkness into the kingdom of God...It's a kingdom of love. A place of acceptance, freedom and peace. That's your inheritance!
Third, realize that deliverance begins with a decision, but is fully realized through God encounters. I must make a decision to refuse to accept anything less than what was purchased for me through the Cross and Resurrection. Then I must come to Jesus expecting Him make that deliverance a reality in my life. Trying to will myself into a place of wholeness is nothing more than secular humanism. I'm not my own God...I can't deliver myself. I can't control my mind enough to push away the pain of my past. I can manage it through controlling my mind, but managing isn't freedom...it's management.
Finally, go to God. I can't tell God what I think He wants to hear. I have to admit whatever it is. I have to pour my heart about before Him not complaining, but expecting Him to heal my heart. I must trust that if my heart is too broken to be repaired...He will give me a new one.
Luke 18 paints the picture of how we should come to God. It's the story of a woman who has been taken advantage of by an enemy. She goes to the king and ask him to avenge her...deliver her of her bondage...the king is wicked so he ignores her, but she's so persistent in her requests that finally he relents and gives her what she needs. She keeps coming because she knows the king is the only one who can make her whole. The point of the story is the woman's attitude. Is that the attitude we have about our issues? Are we consistent and persistent in our approach to God because we know He's the only one who can deliver us or are we content to manage our issues with food, drugs, alcohol, sex, brainless tv or whatever else we use to dummy the pain?
Come and keep on coming to God. Not because you have to convince Him to set you free, but because sometimes deliverance comes in layers b/c our pain is so deep in our hearts. Come expecting, believing and confident that your time for deliverance is NOW!
