The One With the Jump

           

 
As a literary enthusiast and aspiring writer, I have a strong appreciation for life’s metaphors. So, before I jumped off a 44 meter high tower into the Nile River, I knew exactly what God intended for it to symbolize-freedom. This jump signifies a new chapter in my life. A chapter of freedom. A chapter of abandon. A chapter of free-falling into grace.

Experiencing the gravity of the Father means jumping into the unknown in faith, knowing that HE will catch and sustain you. Like the song says, “Oh the gravity of You brings my soul unto it’s knees.” For too long I have lived a life of “but what if faith”, waiting to complete God’s commands when it was practical or when I had everything I needed. Too long I’ve been afraid to open myself to hearing His voice, opting for a more cynical “that doesn’t really happen to people anymore” philosophy. Too long I’ve been bound by the chains of performance religion, only to fail and become tangled in shame. Too long I’ve been bound by the chains of people pleasing, allowing it paralyze me into sterilized Christianity.

No longer. Now, I will embrace and claim the freedom promised me throughout scripture. I will not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I am free. I am free from the opinions of others. I am free from the condemnation I bring upon myself. I am free from having to think inside the Conservative, evangelical box. I am free to champion those whom Christianity rejects. I am free to believe that I am worthy of receiving. I am free to accomplish the impossible because my Father has all connections to turn the impossible into the possible.

Here’s the kicker- you are just as free as I am. You don’t have to bungee jump into the Nile River to have this freedom. It’s always been yours. Claim it. So often we pray for things that God has already given. “Dear Lord, please provide for me…” He has already promised He would provide. “Dear Lord, please give me peace….” Already promised to you. “Dear Lord, I want to be accepted…” Already promised. “Dear Lord, give me freedom….” Again, it’s already yours. The reason we don’t experience these things in our daily lives is that we fail to claim it and we fail to BELIEVE it. In actuality, the prayer should be, “Lord, I claim this freedom you’ve promised, help my unbelief.” Trust me, conquering unbelief is a daily process, and I’m just at the beginning of this journey. I don’t have it all figured it out, and I haven’t reached a “freedom plateau” in my spiritual life. Honestly, they almost had to push me off that tower. The point is that I did it, though. I’ve begun, and I invite you to join me.

So, this Easter, live in the power that Christ rose for. Live in freedom. Live in light. I encourage you to make your own freedom list (or use mine), and say it out loud, claiming it for yourself. You will feel silly at first, but there’s something powerful about saying these words aloud. Seriously. Do it.

Here are a few of the verses Father has given me to and I hope they will benefit you as well.

Galatians 5:1- “It is from freedom that Christ has set you free. Do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery."

John 8:32- “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.”

2 Corinthians 3:17- “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Romans 8:1-2 “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."