For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
In the course of ministering healing, spirit, soul and body to those who seek it, I observe one common struggle among the seekers. Their lives are not as they want them to be. Some have no control over their actions, emotion, or responses. Some are controlled by demonic spirits. Some have physical conditions that they know should not be there in the first place, not natural. All seek one thing: freedom.
The freedom that these seekers seek has to do with the ability to exercise self-control over themselves. The ability to exercise their free will, to choose. Free will is an integral part of a human being, given to us by God at creation. It forms part of our identity, our personality. When free will is subject to unwelcomed control, manipulation and domination, the person is “violated”, his identity is hidden, suppressed, and forcefully denied. Therefore, we see in today’s world, many are “fighting” for that right to choose, to exercise free will per se.
However, attaining the free will to choose, being freed to determine our own future is only a mean to an end. Free will is not necessarily freedom. We ministered to many who were under bondage of some sort through prayer counselling, prayers for deliverance, healing, etc. The seekers are set free to be able to exercise their free will. But their ultimate freedom depends entirely on what they choose and how they choose. The Apostle Paul talked about this struggle. He wanted to choose right, live in agreement with God’s laws, but failed. Therefore he said, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a)
True freedom comes when we exercise our free will to choose God. By merely having the freedom to choose does not guarantee us true freedom. Look at Adam and Eve. They had complete freedom to exercise their free will. It was the manner they exercise their free will that has brought devastating consequences to mankind. We are not blaming them for our troubles! Because we too, have more than often made the same blunder in our lives.
My friends, only by choosing Jesus, to follow Him, obey Him, honour and worship Him that we are freed to be who we are. Only then we can have the help we need to exercise our free will to choose the path in life that leads to true freedom. Live free!
- Submit your will to the Lord. Ask Him to guide you to make godly, wise choices in all your decision making.
- Pray for leaders in our nation and the world – spiritual, community, political leaders, that God’s guidance will be upon them in all their decision making.