~ Freedom Calls ~
Silenced by the hand of Condemnation, she wanders the corridors of yesterday, seeking an open door--a way out of the Pit of Woe. One door after another...locked. The overhead light grows dimmer every day; the light at the end of the tunnel is not there. She collapses to the ground, cradling herself tightly as thick, heated tears rush to take flight, leaving her cold and alone... So very alone... Around her, tugging on one door after another, a thousand hearts, just like hers, seek to escape the chains of yesterday... but there is no escape.
He stands in a dark corner, Anger keeps him company. The voice of Bitterness a constant reminder of the injustice served to him throughout his life. Death--that is what he longs for... for himself and for others. He's had enough. He wants out. But he is no fool...! He knows there are no exit signs in this place. This is all there is to life... No beauty, no greatness, no peace, no love awaits him... so he remains, feeding from the hands of Anger, waiting and watching for a time when he can strike those who get in his way...
Love stands beyond the darkness, shining His light into the corridors of shame and misery... Though pained hearts long for freedom, they hide in the darkness fearing their deeds will be made known.
Love waits...
She cowers in the shadows, fearing further heartache, further abuse, further rejection and shame... In the darkness the voice of Fear sings out, "Here is your Accuser, come to rape you of your dignity; come to reflect back to you the pure ugliness of your soul... Hide, or the world will see just how worthless you truly are..."
He grinds his teeth as Anger hisses honed words of accusation... "Do not trust the Light... The Light reveals all! You will be condemned! You will be judged! You will be tortured!"
Love speaks... "I have come so you may have life and have it more abundantly... I have come to set you free of all that troubles you..."
Love waits...
Her heart is touched with hope. She rises to view the Voice that calls. Fear, Doubt and Shame rush to spit in her face, damning her for even considering she was worthy of a better life. She bows to the cruel and familiar voices. She drops to her knees in worship and cries, "You're right! I'm no good. I'm not worthy. Forgive me... Forgive me..." She remains trapped...
He turns his back on what he believes is a lie; hardened by time and abuse. He's had enough. To hell with the Love that calls to his heart; to hell with all that he can't see or feel. Reality is what reality has shown itself to be, he believes. Everything else is just an illusion... and illusions, he had come to see, are for fools...
Love watches from a distance. Although He has the power to overcome the darkness, no prisoner can be set free unless they will to be so. Every soul that has walked, and will walk the earth has been given a free will, and Love knows that gift cannot be taken from them.
But He hears their cries:
"Help me!"
"Forgive me!"
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm scared..."
"Please... please help me..."
Love feels their tears at His feet, rising like a flood. They burn His skin with their passion. They climb His body until they engrave themself upon His heart. He cannot turn away--His loving heart will not allow Him to... He refuses to turn away. He will not leave them to suffer like this.
He sees beyond their flesh. He sees beyond their fears and shame. He sees their hearts. He hears their cries... Their yearning to be free is what has called to Him. He has come to rescue them.
So He speaks... He speaks words of Hope, of Truth, of Peace, of Love, of Mercy, of Grace. He speaks directly to their heart. He knocks on the door--a door that has no lock, but can only be opened from the inside, by those who seek freedom.
Love waits...
She hears the words of Hope, of Truth, of Peace, of Love, of Mercy, of Grace...and she starts to respond... but Darkness knows he can keep her prisoner only if she believes his lies, so he reminds her of what has been done to her; he echoes her own fears; he plays on her emotions, wooing her into a false sense of security. She will not leave Darkness. She will continue to give him everything he wants. He will continue to degrade her. She will never be free... not as long as he convinces her she is dirty... she is ugly... she is no good.
He hears the words of Hope, of Truth, of Peace, of Love, of Mercy of Grace... and starts to respond... but Darkness knows he can keep him prisoner if he believes his lies...so he reminds him of what has been done to him........ Anger stirs once more...
They remain prisoner to their emotions...
~*~~*~~~*~~~*~~*~
Jesus came so we may have life and life more abundantly... but the lies of the enemy stop us from daring to receive that new life. The enemy tells us that we will be condemned if we confess our sins, but God waits to set you free of sin and from the death it causes; free from the emotional death it causes within your own heart, that can leave you feeling hopeless, lifeless, worthless and tempted by suicide.
Inside your heart ~ where you hide, where you fear, where you ache for hope but cannot find it ~ there is an opening to the enemy when you believe negative emotion over Truth...
The truth is, you are dearly loved and wanted by God... You have a purpose in this world. Your life has meaning. Your HEART IS GOOD... Yeah, the flesh is weak at times, but your heart --you know, the REAL YOU, that has been beaten down by life-- IS GOOD, and God wants that part of you free... for when that is free, you are free to know great peace, joy, love and hope. Even the enemy knows this, that's why he uses your emotions to control you; so you will never be free.
The Truth is Jesus ~ He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus is the way to freedom. His truth WILL set you free, and the life He gives is far more beautiful than you dare to imagine. He's done all He can to grant you this freedom, but it's up to you to receive this free gift from Him...and often that means denying the voices and feelings that screw with your mind and heart.
Jesus does not come to condemn you, but to relieve you of guilt.
Jesus does not come to shame you, but to give you back your dignity.
Jesus does not come to make you pay for your sins and your mistakes; He has already paid for them, so you don't have to.
Jesus doesn't come to force you to live with a heap of rules and regulations. He comes to set you free... but you must choose freedom. You must choose to see beyond your circumstances to where He stands waiting to rescue you. You must choose to believe the positive voice of hope over the negative voice of hopelessness.
Jesus possesses the power to forgive you of your sins; to rescue you from the death that you sense in your heart, that is caused through sin... and He also has the power to release you from the wounds others have caused you.
He detaches you from what's been done to you; He takes that shame upon Himself so you feel it and wear it no more. The day will come where you may be reminded of the past, but you will no longer ache over it. He takes the pain. He takes the shame. And He enables you to live, laugh and love again...
He heals the wounds within, and the pain they once caused become His burden... they no longer have a hold over you.
Jesus didn't suffer as He did to lead you into a world of rules and regulations, but to set you totally free... but you must heed the positive voice that calls softly within -- the voice that has come in answer to your prayers...
I asked God once, "Why didn't you speak to me while I was growing up...?" He replied, "I did... I was the positive voice; you chose to believe the negative..." This is still my choice- an act of my own free will...
Emotions speak loudly; they will remind you of what you have done and what others have done to you. Emotions will continually point out the negative if you're not careful... and the enemy will use them to keep you a prisoner of pain, of misery, of worthlessness and hopelessness.
Jesus comes to give you life and life more abundantly... and he comes as the voice of Hope in your heart. Satan comes to steal freedom from you, to kill all hope in your heart, and to destroy you. Jesus wants you to be free and live. Satan wants you to suffer and die...
Choose to live... Choose life... Choose hope...
Jesus won't force anything upon you... not even freedom. But He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. The door is unlocked, but it's up to you to open it to Him... for you do possess free will.
The choice is yours...
Freedom or slave to misery...?
Healing or constant reminders of what's been...?
Peace or constant condemnation...?
The door is unlocked... stay in the darkness of shame and misery... or walk freely into the Light and live...
PS. How do I know this...? I have been where the people in the above story have been. I have been consumed with shame and guilt. I have suffered at the hands of fear and rejection. I have been condemned by worthlessness and ridicule. I was plagued by the voices of anger and suicide... I am a prisoner set free...
Jesus came to set me free. He has never condemned me; never grown angry with me; never brought shame upon me. He took my pains, healed me of the past, detached me from sin and shame, and now I live --truly live, knowing peace, joy, hope and love... and you can, too...just ask Him how...
Open the door and walk free...
With respect and compassion
Donna
xoxox
© Donna Keevers Driver.
Subject : Freedom calls...
First Posted Date: on my Myspace site: 29 May 2009, 12:16 PM
Subject : Freedom calls...
First Posted Date: on my Myspace site: 29 May 2009, 12:16 PM