Freedom!

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

“Every man dies, not every man really lives.” When I first read those words on a movie poster for Braveheart, I was hooked. After nineteen years, this movie still stirs my heart. Especially in one powerful scene where young William Wallace’s slain father appears in a dream to exhort him “Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.”

God has given us new hearts and encourages us to follow them as well. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26) Yet, as C.S Lewis observed in The Weight of Glory, “…it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us… We are far too easily pleased.”

The antidote to half-heartedness is wholeheartedness. Paul exemplified this; “…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Wholeheartedly seeking God’s presence is the way to really live and experience joy, “You will make known to me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11)

God offers us infinite joy, but the choice is ours as to whether we will follow our hearts or settle for less! His promise still stands, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Pursuing God’s Present,

Steve