Break Every Chain

Romans 5:6   When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

                       

The Lenten season started yesterday.  This holy period on the Christian calendar brings us to the death and resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning.   For us, it is a season of reflection and sacrifice, a time to draw nearer to the Lord, as we contemplate His love and sacrifice for us, and seek to express our gratitude for that gift.

Many of us give up a favorite food, maybe watching television....something that is meaningful to us in order to identify more closely with the sacrifice of Jesus.  I myself am doing that.  But I also feel the Lord's leading to go deeper.  As I am focused on the death of Jesus, I am sensing the Lord's leading to focus on His reason for coming.  Our Father had and has a burning desire to see His creations set free from the heavy chains of sin and pain.  The habits, attitudes, negative emotions and actions that weigh us down, dragging us under so that we become smothered by them, unable to see God's light or breathe in His presence.  John 10:10  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Jesus did not come that we might live in bondage to anger, addiction, depression, complaining, gossiping, judgmental-ness, guilt or any of the other things that keep us imprisoned and bound.  

John 8:36   So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  

This week, God has been "visiting" my heart with strong impressions to sacrifice my heart itself. Give up the sins that bind and enslave.  Spend time drawing nearer to Him.  What a wonderful and renewing feeling this is.  I am always excited when the Lord starts me off on something new! Perhaps there is a special anointing on the Lenten season for the breaking of chains!  That kind of makes sense being it is the time that Jesus paid the price for our sins and rose to give us new life.  
Romans 8:2  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  

The Lord came that we may have abundant, satisfying life.  He came that we may be freed from the power of sin and death.  Does it not make sense that He would want us to live in that state of freedom?  What a loving God we serve!

Lord, thank You.  The fact that You came to earth, died a horrible death and redeemed  me is always so unfathomable to me.  I can not wrap my head around it in anyway, all I can say is thank You.  I want more of You.  Lord, during this holy season, help us to break any chains that are keeping us from experiencing the fullest life we can have in You.  Destroy the bindings that keep us from sharing this life with others and from living in full fellowship with You.  You are the ultimate chain breaker.

Ask God what He wants you to sacrifice or do for Lent.

Galatians 5:2a  So Christ has truly set us free. 

Just as an aside:   Perhaps the Lord wants us to not just give up something for Lent, but to do something....give more of ourselves, give more mercy, give more money.  Be kinder, be more available, be more generous.  Not just reaching inward, by reaching outward like Jesus did. Something to think about.