The thick falling flakes meant one thing—a snow day! I knew my students were thrilled to have a day off school. And even though I love my job, I was thrilled too. Bring on freedom from my 6:00 a.m. alarm, traffic on my commute, and the daily classroom details and duties.
But what now? Being free from those things is part of the goodness of a snow day. But what am I now free to do? There’s so much potential: take a walk in the snowy sunshine, sink into a book, call far-away friends and family. But to be honest, it’s easy for me to squander my time. I’m tempted to sleep for hours and scroll the day away. To be clear—I’m all for rest, and I don’t want to pour guilt or shame on genuine replenishment. I just have to admit that I can get stuck in the kind of inactivity that doesn’t lead to flourishing.
In a similar way, Jesus followers can be tempted to squander grace. We rightly celebrate freedom from being slaves to sin and death. Bring on freedom from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor and love. Bring on freedom from the belief that external efforts will save us. This freedom is God’s gift accomplished through Jesus Christ and given to us. This is grace. It is deeply good, even essential, to let freedom ring.
For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
—Galatians 5:1
But what now? Being free from these things is just the beginning of the goodness of grace. What am I now free to do? I feel my chest tighten with fear and doubt as I consider this. Is grace about to become a grind? Is there a new to-do list? I know I will fall short. My heart is already condemning me.
Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us.
—1 John 3:23
Whew, it’s not a to-do list! It’s faith overflowing in love. I’m free to live fully and to love those around me. Because, as 1 John 3:19–20 says, “This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things.”
In Christ we already belong to the truth. We are free to express love in our actions—not as a way to earn a place in God’s heart but to celebrate that we’re already there. Faith-filled love in action is not always easy, but it is the only path of true blessing and flourishing. This is why we live in freedom. What might that specifically look like for each of us today?
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86 thoughts on "Freedom of the Christian"
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I don’t see Day 17 on th website either.
I’m not finding Day 17 either. I use the website.
Still was tricky for me to find. Here’s a direct link:
https://shereadstruth.com/the-spirit-versus-the-flesh-2/
Happy Wednesday!
Thank you ❤️
Thank you! So helpful! :)
Day 17 is on home page
Thanks, KELLY. I emailed them about the issues of not being on the app. It appears to be a problem when the “day” number is missing, a common denominator in my emails to them over time.
Thank you!
Home page of the app? Or the website?
Website
Today reading is also on HRT site. If that helps anyone. That’s where I went this morning. Have a great day ladies!
For those of you who don’t have a book. The HRT site has today’s (day 17) reading.
It is the rest of Galatians 5, Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 16:1-15, Revelation 21:1-8.
I pray that I would allow the Holy Spirit to guide my life. Amen.
Thank you!!
Thank you.
Freedom is a beautiful and wonderful thing, though it’s not free for the One who paid the price. Like the red poppies, lest we forget, our peace comes at the cost of fallen soldiers and the lifelong grief of their families. Our soldier is Christ for our freedom, through Him. Worldly freedom says, I have all this time to do what I please (I see this a lot when people reach financial goals, retire early, they have freedom of time and finance, and they travel full time, to serve themselves, and not God or His Kingdom). Godly freedom is to be free from slavery in order to serve God. Slavery is so subtle and sneaky. Though a verse that stood out to me is, to receive praise from God and not from man. May we be free from man’s approval, the flattery and its deception, and the fear of man. I remembered being asked if I could wear dresses going to church instead of pants, because women should wear women’s clothes according to the text. I remembered being told to submit to a “Saul” leadership in church (boy, wouldn’t a narcissist love to preach submission, and force submission, note their fruit, they won’t die for you like Christ dies). These were some modern day tactics of bondages that were gently introduced and persuaded unto us and took years to get out. Faith-filled love is not easy because it involves so many efforts and actions. And to Patti’s question, what does that look like today? For me, tt looks like a journey of constant forgiveness, of failing, and trying again, 70 times 7, that love may flow again, from the One in Heaven, through us, to the ones that hurt us. Joining in prayers with our shes today. I got referred to another eye specialist and will have an appointment tomorrow. Thank you so much shes for your covering prayers and love. Be blessed dear sisters.
Laws, rules, guidelines, covenants, etc. What is right and true, then and now? For me dresses are more comfortable than pants. But is my comfort an appropriate measure? If women wearing pants makes people feel it is wrong as messing with gender identification should you accept this? Do you always drive at or under the speed limit? If submitting to Saul leadership is objectionable what do you do? If incest or rape leads to pregnancy and affects your mental wellbeing should you be forced to submit? When God lead the Israelites into battle did any of them object to killing others? How do you define love? Is tough love really love? What version or translation of the bible is what God intended? Same for denominations. Who gets to decide? For just themselves or also for others?
Did Jesus demand the Romans to change all their laws to match God’s? Does God want us to choose to follow? How much should we do to be fishers of men or planter of seeds? So many opinions and interpretations! Knowing how to follow so many rules, no wonder we feel enslaved by following the whole law. Loving God and loving others is freeing and something that more readily shines the light of Christ to others. Lord help me walk in your ways to your glory.
Amen to today’s reading and devotional! Today this looks like extending grace to someone dear to me who has no faith, has asked me not to talk about mine. Oh how it hurt! But God gives a salve over this, I’m amazed at how much love I have for this dear one that they might know Him my Jesus.
Diane, my heart hurts for you and especially for that one who is dear to your heart. Keep praying, sister, that God will ’till’ that heart.
(I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,for now is the time to seek the Lord,that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12 NLT)
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It’s so good to remember this b/c how easy is it to remember we are free, but we forget from what…whether it be sin or striving or addiction, etc. We can live from rest and not try perfection but enjoy His peace!
Warren Wiersbe notes:
Galatians 5:7-12
“It is important to note that Paul never uses the image of the race to tell people how to be saved. He is always talking to Christians about how to live the Christian life. A contestant in the Greek games had to be a citizen before he could compete. We become citizens of heaven through faith in Christ; then the Lord puts us on our course, and we run to win the prize (see Phil. 3:12–21).”
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v. 7-
“In the races, each runner was to stay in his assigned lane, but some runners would cut in on their competitors to try to get them off course. This is what the Judaizers had done to the Galatian believers: They cut in on them and forced them to change direction and go on a “spiritual detour.” It was not God who did this, because He had called them to run faithfully in the lane marked “Grace.””
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Lots to reflect on here today! Thanks to each of you for sharing your personal experiences/reflections. ❤~
I know SEARCHING already shared it (thanks, sister!), but as soon as I saw that ‘my verse’ is the verse of the day on Biblegateway, I knew I was going to share it! ❤
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. ~ Psalm 16:8 NLT
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Partial lyrics from a Gold City song-
I Will not be Shaken:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Blood and righteousness
And I, I won’t be shaken
I will not be shaken
I will not be moved
I’m gonna stand in faith and
Watch what the Lord can do
I’m holding to the promise
That God is in control
I will not be shaken
No, No No
Faith-filled love….what does that genuinely look like in my life today? For me it looks like encouraging my husband, and pushing him to lean and learn more about Jesus. It’s always taking a faith-based perspective with all of my friends. Its praying with those I love in the midst of their turmoil. Its caring for their physical needs when they come up. Though its also being honest about myself and my walk with Jesus with them!
Freedom through Grace. That’s it. Nothing more. Salvation because of Grace. In God’s grace we are given faith to believe in Jesus as God’s son, and that’s all we have to do to be saved. In a world where multi-tasking, busy schedules, demands from other people are so overwhelming and celebrated, it is to comforting to know that God isn’t looking down at me with a list of expectations. Just believe in Jesus. Simple. But hard for us to grasp. Like I’ve said before, I can’t imagine Jesus being in a hurry, trying to do everything, pleasing all the people…
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We are free to believe in Jesus and to love others. I surrender my day to you Lord, guide my steps. Help me to see interruptions as divine opportunities to share your love and grace with those around me. Forgive me for not being a faithful steward of my time, abilities and finances in the past. Help me to steward well my life.
Praying for all of you! Stand Firm and persevere!
I just love Paul’s writing style. In verse two of the Galatians passage… “Take note!” Heeheehee! It reminds me of what people say about “therefore”… (What is it there for?)
GOOD morning sweet She’s! GREAT read and thrilled to read Patti Saul’s bio,as she too works with children (Pre-K). Woke up 10 minutes later then I wanted, but wanted to read along with you all. Have a GREAT wonderful day. PLEASE pray for our other TK teacher (SO SWEET) as I can “hear” her discouragement. Some of our sinful little creatures are challenging.
What does the T stand for in the TK?
Have a great week with the kiddos, I love your love for them and this new career that God gave you..and Sarah D!
Good morning Rhonda, it’s stands for transitional kindergarten.
Blessings and prayers for you and other teachers as you return to school.
It is well.
It is well.
It is well.
His Word in Isaiah 41:10 says..
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand..
He’s got you, dear sister! He’s got you!
Much love.❤
I think Deuteronomy 31:6 may be applicable too..❤
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you not forsake you..❤
THANK YOU sweet Tina
It seems pretty straight forward– Jesus came to give us freedom from the law. SO why do we get confused as Christians….well- I feel better because Paul is also warning us that THERE ARE ones trying to spread false-ness. And the devil is stirring the pot as well. That is why it is IMPERATIVE to stay in the Bible and know God’s word.
The whole Bible, not just Grace but also Mercy. There is judgement..we will be judged on WHAT we did with what we received—we should not squander our time with the freedom we have. I was squandering my time for a long time…aimlessly shopping-getting things I didn’t need, spending money I didn’t have, laziness and scrolling. I am so glad I got the fire to use my time for Jesus! It has literally changed my life, not in the way that I feel justified in doing things for him, but that it is a usefulness for him because it is beautiful being hands and feet for him. Does that make sense?! It fills me with Joy, it takes my mind off my pain (seeing others hurting and sharing with them), it gives me purpose IN HIM!
I have shared before that my sister is in the Mormon faith and it pains me and I also have friends and family in another works based religion. Lord, we pray for those that want to stay under the law—Jesus gave us freedom, that we don’t have to work our way to you. We are free, “who the SON sets free, we are free indeed, I am a child of God.”
Song by Hillsong–“Who You Say I Am”
He is in us, we are in Him! When we received Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit came to LIVE in us…!! Let’s let the Holy Spirit guide us, not ourselves. I pray this today.
Amen on all that, sister! ❤️
Perfect sense, Rhonda J! ❤
A double Amen to this whole preach!!!!
Thank you Rhonda covered in hugs..❤
So good my friend!
Praying for your sister to be set free from Mormon, dear Rhonda. I just love your heart and kindness.
Goor morning sweet She friends. I would appreciate your prayers for peace and comfort today for me and my adult son and daughter as we reflect on this 3rd anniversary of my husband’s natural yet unexpected passing. We are grateful he is with Jesus and cherish the memories of his life and legacy yet we also miss his physical presence here with us. Thank you! ❤️
Always good to see you Martha,(my dear Madre shared the same name!) and yes I always pray that you are doing well b/c I remember well when you lost your husband unexpectedly. Big Hugs sent your way! I hope we can do a COFFEE CHAT soon?! Would love that!!
Martha, you are often on my mind.. Praying for God’s peace and comforting arms around you and yours as you remember your dear husband today, the third anniversary of his being called home..
Sending you some hugs covered in much love wrapped in prayers..❤
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I can’t believe it has been three years. I know that time has probably seemed so long. Continued prayers for you and your family, Martha. ❤️
*Good
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Sending hugs, thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Like Adrienne said, it’s hard to believe it’s been three years since you shared your sad loss with us. I’m sure it has not gone that fast for you. Peace and Love to you dear friend ❤️
Sweet MARTHA – praying your day has been filled with peace and the best memories ❤️
Prayers for peace for you and your family. Thankful you are reflecting together
Praying for you now!
“We are free to express love in our actions-not as a way to earn a place in God’s heart but to celebrate that we’re already there.” What a beautiful way to capture why we should do works— not because we have to but because it is love in action founded in our love for God. Wrapping you all in prayer for your individual needs, my dear sisters.
Thank you. Maria.❤
“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence…”
1 John 3:19
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I love how this verse puts it – “our hearts at rest – in his presence” – there is nothing like having your heart at rest and peace. I am assured that I belong to the truth – I am forever saved, Hallelujah! …Now let me show that I belong to the truth by loving others with my actions!
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Father God help me to love others by serving them. Let me be Your hands and feet today. Help me not to squander your grace. And Father, let this prayer be for each and every one of my sisters here today too. Help us to live out your love and your presence today. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Continued prayers for you all – have a blessed Tuesday!
Thank you Sharon for that beautiful prayer and encouragement!
Amen. ❤
Amen.❤
Well, I got a front line test of this yesterday. I have been working hard to break free from the theology of “word of faith” and yesterday I was confronted by a patients husband (totally unprovoked) declaring this word of faith over me. He called himself a prophet and gave me example after example of miracles he had performed. Usually I could walk away but my spirit was very disturbed when he started quoting scripture. I’m thankful I know scripture too! And so my only argument was scripture right back. I still have been very shaken up by the event. I don’t like confrontation and I really don’t like confrontation with other believers. I was thankful to see this in today’s reading “a little yeast leavens the whole dough”. Jesus says, the kingdom of God is like dough where a little yeast works it’s way through the whole batch” on first glance this seems positive, like we will have a huge impact! But I read a book once that says in all of Scripture yeast is the symbol for sin. And specifically Jesus says beware of the yeast of the Pharisees. So this author said this passage is a warning to the church that false doctrines will spread like wildfire in the end times. That’s what Paul is saying here, and I believe word of faith is one of those. She’s pray to help me discern the “unsettled feeling” of the spirit. I never know if it is a “you need to listen this is for you” or a “this isnt right” feeling
Praying that your heart will be at rest today Lanie. Not sure who this man is, but by the sounds – he’s not a very humble man!…and whatever he “declared” over you – I believe if God wanted to say something to you, He’d say it Himself – directly to you!…May you have God’s peace rest upon you today. ❤️
Wow. You hit it spot on. Absolute confirmation of what I thought God was telling me about this situation! The conversation started with (during his wife’s evaluation ) him telling me he had a birthday party with 100 people speaking on how he had touched each of their lives. And when I was praying to God about this the first thing my mind went to was, was he humbly declaring Christ work through him. The second thing God has been teaching me is that the Spirit will teach me! I don’t have to go looking for the answers it’s all there in the word and the spirit. So you literally hit the two points perfectly! Thank you!
Oh Lanie, I pray the Lord will help you discern. When you said you are not sure if it is a “you need to listen this is for you” or a “this isn’t right” feeling- I know what you mean. There is SO much falseness today…spreading like wild fire! Just as Laura said as well today. I have someone in my group that seems to declare she too is prophesying and a believer in deliverance gospel…I’m getting a weird stirring in my Spirit about it. God gives us deliverance from strongholds and gives us freedom, so I’m just not sure. Kinda sounds like a Word of Faith kinda deal? I don’t want a little bad yeast spreading through my group. Lord, give me and Lanie, and other she’s discernment, to know your word, the truth of your word to know how to respond or reject when needed. Lord we want to live in YOUR freedom, and be aware of false doctrine. Thank you Lord, Amen.
Rhonda, it’s so encouraging to see you say you are dealing with this too! I always read your comments and consider you someone with great wisdom, so I feel like I am surrounded by good company. Hopefully this stirring in our spirit is God bringing all darkness to light!
I am very convicted today in this freedom aspect especially because God has placed it on my heart that my freedom to work from home doesn’t mean freedom to scroll all day long, or to communicate with those who are toxic to me. I ask for prayer that in this conviction, I will obey what God is putting on my heart and keep living for Him and not for others.
Prayers for you today Lydia! ❤️
Lydia, can very much relate to this. I love my job, but some days it is tempting to just scroll all day or maybe do other things. I will keep us both in prayer for this. Have a beautiful day, sister.
How many opportunities to live like Jesus have I squandered??? And how many times have I used opportunities for my own sinful choices and actions? Lord, please help me to clearly see opportunities and choices for what they are, to lean into those that draw me and others closer to you and to run away from those that would lure me away.
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sisters, let’s not get too close to the line between loving our neighbors and sinning with the them. The evil one is a master of disguise, so that line is not as clearly defined as we might think.
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Gal 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
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BG verse today – Ps. 16:8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
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CEE GEE – love that song, God is in This Story. Reminding me/us that He is in our story and in our details. In your waiting through the years, sister, He has been working ❤️
CAT-TEE – praying for Jarod and those searching
MUNCHKIN – thank you for your testimony of making the hard but right choice in ending that engagement. I wish I had been that wise and saved myself (and him) from a failed marriage.
Searching, OMG! I felt the arrows of these words..
How many opportunities to live like Jesus have I squandered??? And how many times have I used opportunities for my own sinful choices and actions?
I am having some dark days that I can’t seem to shift.. I am wasting the freedom Christ bought for me.. I seem to be attaching myself to a yolk of slavery that is not mine to bear.. and yet..
Lord, I know I belong to You and I know the truth of who I am, help me to live in that Truth, that Freedom and Lord, in your mercy, please remind me of the Hope that eludes me at this time, that I have in You.
In your mercy, Hear my prayer Lord God, in Jesus’s name I pray, Lord God, Amen..
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BUT GOD…
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Searching, prayerful you are making progress in the healing of your back. Sorry for your troubles..
Sending healing love your way sister!❤️
❤❤ Praying with you through this time, Tina! I am struggling with some things, too, and acts of service is one of them. Sending you hugs from sunny South Carolina! ❤
❤ Thank you for those reflections! (and your encouragement) Love you, sister!
Thank you Searching for the verse, be set free to serve, and not to indulge.❤️
Thank You Father that by the Blood of Jesus I am free indeed. Let my actions and words reflect that I am Yours. In Jesus name, Amen
This part of Galatians stuck out to me this morning: You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?
I can think back on my long life following Christ and see times when I was running well, and times when I was listening to lies (or not listening at all). But it was my own doing. I wasn’t necessarily listening to anyone trying to persuade me from truth. But we have plenty of wolves out there, preaching false doctrine and persuading Christians to think and act in unBiblical ways. It truly boils my blood. Yesterday I happened to see a comment on social media made by a leader in our church. It was supporting a non-Biblical view, but one that is widely held by let’s say, “moderates.” I was outraged. This person has a lot of influence over people in our church and here she was, publicly declaring a viewpoint against God’s Word. I wish we had a Paul writing to the Church today!
I liked this quote from HRT: We honor the freedom we have been given when we live like Jesus and love the way He loves.
It’s NOT about just being free, it’s about being free to be like Jesus. He is our role model!
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Amen!❤️
“Faith-filled love in action is not always easy, but it is the only path of true blessing and flourishing. This is why we live in freedom. What might that specifically look like for each of us today?”
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Lord let me hear You and move in Faith-filled love in action today.
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CAT-TEE – praying for Jarod’s safe teturn and his mental health to be restored.
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SEARCHING, MERCY, MARIA LAING, HOPE, KRISTINE LOUGHMAN, CHERYL BLOW and RHONDA J – continuing to pray for relief from your pain.
Thank you! ❤️
Kelly in answer to your question yesterday – I haven’t heard a word more from my cousin Scott. He still has stage 4 cancer, and is still not saved. My sister Arian would like to not go back to substitute teaching part time, but as of yet has not gotten a full time job.
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Thank you for asking and thank you for your prayers!
Thank you for your continued prayers Kelly! And listing prayer requests to remind me who to keep in my prayers!
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Rhonda, thank you for continued prayers for Brian. He is still very fragile and has the infection. He keeps needing more blood. His wife Martha just had cochlear surgery the day before she had to take him to the ER. so please pray for her. She says she can feel everyone’s prayers.
Thank you sweet Kelly! Joining you in prayers.
Today’s reading has encouraged an inspection of sorts for me – am I taking the generous, freely given grace of God for granted? Because He is so gracious and forgiving, do I forget to be grateful for that blessing AND do I forget to show it to others through out my day? I do love the freedom, but do I remember that Jesus paid for that freedom on the cross? Thank you, Father for the gift of Your grace and help me show ‘faith-filled love in action’ to others today!
Amen.
Amen. ❤
I have true freedom in Jesus. I am free to live for Him. I don’t have to work to prove anything. I can work because I want to show others and share with them the freedom that I have.
From HRT today:
“By the grace of God, all who trust in Jesus are free: Freed not to work for what has been given but free to love the way we have been loved.” (Jamin Roller)
Blessings to each of you today. ❤️
Tricia.. I love those words from HRTs Jamin Roller..❤️