Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden. The God who is our salvation. Selah. God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death. Psalm 68:12-20
I was talking with a friend about how the Lord delivered me from cigarettes 31 years ago and she said, “You never craved it once?!” I told her the truth, that I had never, ever craved a cigarette because the Lord delivered me from them. Delivered means set free!
The LORD said, “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey… Exodus 3:8a
Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.’ Exodus 6:6
In my Bible (NASB), the heading for this chapter is: God Promises Action! I love that so much! What is our part in all of this? To come to Him, to ask Him, to agree with Him and to believe Him.
We read in Matthew 8:16-17 how people were bringing many who were demon possessed and He cast out the spirits and all were healed! He was showing them that He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases as Isaiah had spoken. Then in verses 32-34 Jesus encountered two demoniacs. The demons knew who He was and asked to be sent into a herd of swine. We used to laugh and call it deviled ham, but there’s nothing funny about demons. Jesus said one word, “Begone!” Everyone was freaked out so they asked Him to leave. He did and encountered a paralytic with great faith and said, “Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven.“
We short change ourselves by fear and unbelief. We hold on for fear of letting go. We say we aren’t ready, or any other excuse. I remember saying I wasn’t ready to let go of cigarettes. I was addicted to them. I was a slave to them and they controlled me.
In James 4:2 it says you do not have because you do not ask.
Back in the mid 90s the Lord promised me a daughter if I quit smoking. I tried everything except hypnosis, which I would never do. I tried cold turkey, patches, gum and prayer. I couldn’t do it. Finally, I said, “Lord, I can’t do it. Would You please bring me to that place where it will be like I never smoked?” That night I had a dream. I was on a Gabriel’s back and he was flying. I could see myself in my bed. He told me, “You will be free like this when you wake up tomorrow.” I never had another cigarette! Praise Jesus, my Deliverer and Redeemer! And my daughter’s name is Gabriela!
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
This is a line in Jewel’s A Life Uncommon song: No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from. That’s so good and spot on! Why hold onto something that is keeping you from walking in the freedom Christ died to give you? (Galatians 5:1)
Read Exodus 3:8 and 6:6 again and put whatever is keeping you enslaved in the place of Egyptians. You can’t lose guys! Jesus prays for you! (John 17 <3)
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8
“If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
Do you want to be free from something that owns you? Do you want to be well? Do you believe He can deliver you? Will you let Him? Delivered and redeemed?
Holy Spirit, I lift up those that are seeking deliverance and freedom from bondages, habits, mindsets, and anything else keeping them from walking in freedom. Bring them to the place where it never was an issue for them as You did for me and others I know, Lord. Thank You for Your all consuming love Jesus our Christ. We praise You and we thank You for bringing us to Your very heart, a land flowing with milk and honey. We love you Lord, forever and always.
