free...

Free at last!  Those three words were part of one of the most moving, most iconic speeches in the twentieth century.  They are inspired, inspiring and inspirational.  They are also very challenging.
What is the challenge?  Why have we been set free?  
In Galatians 5, Paul writes that, "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."  It seems that true freedom comes with much responsibility.  


We are not called to be free for our own sake, but to serve others.  God has a purpose for our lives (we've all heard that before). The purpose is to love and serve others - to care for the widow and the orphan - to lay down our life for a friend.


Where does this take me?  
Yesterday, I sang worship songs about "being in God's hands" and "God providing". I heard a message about the "sin of worry", and God's amazing provision.  For the first time during this transition, I have a full realization that I am set free!  I no longer have the burden of an 8 to 5 job or the stress that accompanies even the best position.  
Instead, I am free to pursue what God wants! I am free to rely on Him to provide our needs! I am free to find my identity in Him and not in what I do! I am free to show Gods grace, when it's the only thing that gets me through!
It's exciting and terrifying!  Like jumping out of an airplane (having faith that the chute will open), or cresting that first hill of the roller coaster!

I've often explained the "Will of God" as a rushing river - Class 5 rapids!  It's not always safe, but it always gets you down stream.  When you get bumped out of the raft, you just have to lay-back and float downstream.  And if you don't like the direction the river is flowing... Tough!  You cannot change the direction of that rushing river. You can try to swim upstream, you can try to cut-out your own off-shoot, but you cannot change the direction of the river!
When it comes to God's will, I've tried to swim upstream. I've tried to create my own river.  I've even tried to stay in the boat - holding on for dear life, staying as safe as I can.  In my defense, I've also tried to lay back and let the stream carry me - It's way-more easy than the alternative!  


So now I'm free - Free from the raft, free from swimming upstream!  It's time to lay back, secure in the knowledge that the river is going exactly where it's supposed to go.  "Carry me Lord!"