“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them
from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and
the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”
Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV)
It’s not a
sight that you see every day – people in identical orange short-sleeved coveralls
shuffling along the sidewalk – but you see it in my town. They make their way
from the jail to the courthouse and then back to the jail periodically.
Their pace is painfully slow. Chains and
shackles keep them from moving any faster. Their heads are down as they struggle to make
sure they are not stepping on the person in front and at the same time not getting
stepped on by the person walking behind them.
Watching this procession, you
cannot help but wonder why each one had been arrested and detained. But you also
find yourself wondering how it must feel to take every step chained and
shackled.
No freedom to dance or jump or even
turn. But rather, every movement held in
place by metal links locked together to restrain the person wearing them.
And then I look at my life. No
orange coveralls. Nothing on my arms and legs restricting me. And yet I too
find myself in chains.
Can I name a few? Fear, anger,
envy, loneliness, depression, greed, infidelity, jealousy, resentment,
addictions, worry, unforgiveness. That’s the short list. Need I go on?
We have all experienced at least
one of those “chains.” They can rob us of our ability to function daily because
they steal our joy and, if we are not careful, consume our every thought and
action to the point that our very faith and trust in the Lord is crippled!
Today’s Scripture speaks directly
to breaking those “chains.” We cannot do it on our own. Psalm 107:13-14 says “Then they cried to the Lord in their
trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness
and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”
Are “chains” holding you tightly
and robbing you of joy and hope and peace? Every single one can be broken to
pieces by giving them to Jesus, the only true Chain-breaker!
I encourage you to talk with a
prayer warrior friend, a counselor or minister and share what “chains” are
wrapped around your heart and holding you hostage. Then go before the Lord and
ask Him to free you from each one and replace them with mercy and forgiveness
and love.
Today, this very minute, trust the
Chain-breaker to do what He says He will do.
Father,
there are chains in my life that are keeping me in darkness. Please take them
from my heart and replace them with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P. it up
Reflect
·
What “chains” in your life are keeping you from
experiencing joy, peace and mercy from the Lord?
Application
·
Journal every “chain” in your life – past and present
– that is holding you prisoner.
·
Meet the Lord face to face during your prayer
time and hand over each “chain” to Him.
·
Thank Him for freeing you and replacing each one
with His love, mercy and forgiveness.
Power Verses
·
Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV) “Then they cried to the
Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them
out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”
·
Psalm 116:16 (NIV) “O Lord, truly I am your
servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from
my chains.”
·
Matthew 4:24 (NIV) “News about him spread all
over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases,
those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, and those having seizures,
and the paralyzed, and he healed them.”
·
I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour.”
·
John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life.”
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