Daily Reflections From God's Word

Tag: Freedom

  • I Was Made for More—And So Were You

    I’ve spent too much time tending graves that Jesus already emptied. Graves of regret. Graves of shame. Graves of “what if” and “if only.”

    But then I hear Him call my name.“Lazarus, come forth!” – John 11:43 (NKJV)

    And I realize—why am I still lying here when I was called to live?Too often, we live like we’re still bound by the past. We say we believe in grace, yet we carry our old sins like they define us. But that’s not how God sees us.

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

    Salvation isn’t just about escaping sin—it’s about stepping into purpose. We weren’t meant to just survive this life—we were made to thrive in the freedom Jesus gave us. Yet, so many of us still live in the shadow of who we used to be.

    The enemy loves to remind us of our failures. But here’s the truth: You are not who you were. You are chosen, free, and forgiven.

    “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3 (NKJV)

    So why do we keep looking back? Why do we act like we belong in a grave when Jesus already called us out?

    Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s doubt. Maybe we’ve been stuck in the past for so long that freedom feels unfamiliar.

    But today, I want to remind you: God didn’t call you to live in your shame. He called you to live in His grace.

    So, here’s my challenge for you:

    Stop making a home in your shame.

    Stop tending a grave that Jesus already walked you out of.

    Step into the life He created you for.

    Because, my friend, you were made for more.

    And that’s worth living for.

    🙌 How has God reminded you of your freedom lately? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story!

  • The Tightrope of Life

    Thoughts for the day…….

    The Tightrope of Life

    I been keepin’ Jesus at a distance
    So afraid to let Him get too close
    To the two lives I’ve been livin’
    As if He couldn’t see them both
    Close enough to feel the warmth of the fire
    Far enough away for me to hide
    But I’m tired of walkin’ the wire
    Between the darkness and the light

    “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would wish you were cold or hot.” Revelation 3:15 (NKJV)

    You ever feel like you’re living two lives? I know I have. It’s a strange and weary thing, keeping Jesus at arm’s length while trying to maintain this illusion of control. It’s safer that way, isn’t it? We feel the warmth of His fire, but we’re terrified to let it consume us fully. We desire what He offers, yet cling to the shadows of who we think we should be, balancing precariously between light and dark.

    As a teenager, I was at church in McAlester when Bro. Heard took the pulpit to preach. How he introduced his message is something I will never forget. “I know you’ve heard it preached before, ‘How Close Can I Live to the World and Still be Saved?’, but tonight I’m approaching that topic from a different angle; ‘How Close Can I Live to God and Still be Lost?’” Those words struck a chord within me, highlighting the danger of superficial faith—the feigned closeness to God while still holding onto the remnants of the world.

    The truth is, straddling that fence isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. We think we can manage it, that we can keep one foot in the world and the other in faith, all while sitting pretty on that top rail. But that’s an illusion. That fence doesn’t belong to us; it’s a part of Satan’s domain, a subtle trap that whispers lies of compromise. And if we aren’t careful, we can be led down a path we never intended to walk.

    Jesus doesn’t want us teetering between two opposing forces. He invites us to surrender, to lay down the struggle, and to embrace the truth of who He is. In Matthew 16:24, He tells us, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” He’s asking for more than just a half-hearted commitment; He desires our whole hearts, our full surrender.

    Here’s the kicker: we can’t walk the line indefinitely without consequences. This balancing act creates inner turmoil, leaving us exhausted and seeking clarity. We hold on to our stubbornness, thinking we can do it our way, but in reality, we are prolonging our own pain. It’s time we stop bargaining with God, thinking we can negotiate our faith on our own terms.

    Let’s be honest: can we really thrive on that tightrope? God’s invitation is clear—step off that fence and draw nearer to Him. In the safety of His embrace, we’ll find rest, purpose, and the courage to follow the path He has laid out for us. No more hiding. No more walking the wire. Only the freedom that comes from surrendering to the One who knows us best, the One who wants us to flourish in His light. Are you ready to take that step?