4 Key ways to Continue to Walk in Freedom
God gives a freedom that surpasses all freedoms. It is a freedom of the spirit as well as a freedom from addictions, habits and hang ups. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. In other words, Jesus has set you free so that you may walk and live in that freedom, He never intends it to be a temporary solution. But once you have been set free, you have a responsibility to not fall (or jump) back into those things Christ has freed you from.
I used to dip snuff, I was addicted, tried to quit on numerous occasions. It wasn’t’ until the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me I would no longer need it that I was able to totally let go of the disgusting habit without any symptom of withdrawal or cravings. God has also liberated me from other addictions and habits as well, some were more of a struggle and a process than the miraculous release from my nicotine addiction.
Yet I am still in a process there are still habits, and ways of thinking that I am even now in the process of overcoming by the Grace of Christ.
What I felt God speak to me recently was to guard myself from falling back into old ways. Maybe you are not like me, but in times of stress I can pick back up on some less than healthy habits. Binge eating junk food and watching Netflix, trying to control things and work beyond what is healthy are some of my go-to habits. The Bible not only warns us to Hold fast to what we have already achieved and overcome Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
But also gives some pretty graphic warnings about what it looks like to fall back into our old ways. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
Yet we are all prone to fall back into old habits if we are not diligent. The old Hymn “Come Thou Fount of Ever Blessing” by Robert Robinson has the line “Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love”. If that is the case, How can we guard out hearts from falling back into our old ways?
When you feel like you are falling back into some old ways here are some tips on how to hold on to the level of living you have achieved.
# 1 Celebrate Your Victories
Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
This verse gives a clue on how to overcome everything the enemy throws at us. It is by the grace of God in Jesus Christ and our own testimonies. It is recounting all the blessings of God and how he has worked in our lives giving us freedom that keeps our minds and souls freshly inspired by His Power and equipped in faith. The more time we spend recounting our testimony the less time we can listen to the doubts of our own flesh and the voice of the enemy who would like nothing more than for us to fall back into our old ways rather than living in power and victory.
#2 Give Thanks for His Liberation
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Giving Thanks puts us in a powerful and humble mind set and heart set. It guards against the anti-pride of thinking there is no way we can keep up our achievement against temptation when we remember that it is Christ in us who gave us the victory over our sinful behaviors in the first place and it is our strength in Him that will help us continue in that very same victory and freedom. We didn’t do it on our own and we still don’t!
#3 Maintain Humility and Grace with Others
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
I’ve seen on more than one occasion the critical or judgmental Christian look down on someone else who got ensnared in a sin with a statement like “I would never do such a thing” This kind of attitude often seems to open a door for the enemy or temptation to creep in. Later on these people who swore they “Could never” actually do.
This is a warning to show grace to others and remember that none of us are above being tempted, we have and continue to overcome temptation by God’s Grace not our own efforts.
#4 Pray for Protection
Hebrews 4:15, 16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus understands temptation and tells us to come to him in prayer. It is one of our best defenses. We can call on Him to help us in our time of need.
We all face temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
But God has given us the tools and the power to overcome and continue living and walking in the amazing Grace and freedom He has blessed us with.
