We all find we are shackled by one thing or another. Our chains may be physical, but it is far more likely they are mental, emotional, or spiritual. God has the power to break those chains, regardless of what they are. So, how do we go about convincing God to break them?
Our first step is to recognize we are in shackles. This may sound obvious, but far too many people are chained to their vices, faults, or deficiencies unknowingly. Oh, they may recognize there is a problem, but not really see it for what it is. Perhaps they discard it as simply the way it is and live with it.
Once we recognize our issue, we must be willing to give it up. I’m not talking about something as obvious or simple as deciding to rid ourselves of a bad habit. It goes far deeper than that. We must have the desire to truly change from the inside out. We must be ready to make a drastic change. We must be ready to stop being who we are and ready to be who God wants us to be.
Once we’ve gotten to the point of giving ourselves up, we must ask God to break those chains. We must believe that God can break them. Our faith may be small at first, but it will grow as we see Him work. As our faith increases, we trust Him more, asking Him to remove larger and tighter chains. Ultimately, we find we are free of the shackles, we are liberated, and we feel light as a feather.
I know. Many of you are saying, “You don’t understand. You don’t know my situation.” You’re right, I don’t. Yet, I do know God has the power to free you. I do know that God has the ability to break your chains. Remember, He is the Creator of all things!
It is often our lack of faith that holds us back. It is our desire to continue to wallow in the pigsty that keeps us there. We say we want to change, but we don’t really. It must be a soul-searching exercise. It requires us to get on our knees in tears with a desire we have never had before, reaching out to God with a deep, heartfelt desire to change. It is at that moment that we can ask Him to break the chains that bind us.
I pray we all fall to our knees before God. I pray we turn to God with our entire being. I pray each one of us will ask God to break the chains that bind us, setting us free to follow Him. Empty yourself of yourself. Open your eyes. See the chains that bind you. Ask God to remove your shackles. Be set free, truly free. Trust God. See your faith grow.
Psalm 107:10-11, 13-14
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High….
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
Marty Pressey 