Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
- Ephesians 6:10
There used to be a show called This Is Your Life. It started as a radio show in the 1940s and then moved to television in the early '50s, lasting until '61. Then there was a remake in the '70s and some special episodes in the '80s. It was one of the original reality series, let's look at someone else's life for entertainment. Technically it was a documentary show where the host would surprise guests and then take them through their lives in front of an audience. This trip through the guest's biography included special guest appearances by colleagues, friends and family.
In a way it was sort of a real version of It's A Wonderful Life, as it took ordinary people and gave their biography, complete with testimonials, to show the impact they had on their communities. There were also celebrities who were featured. What there weren't were losers. There weren't any Hey, you lied and stole and drank and drugged and fought and lusted your way through the first half or so of your life, highlights include overdoses, car wrecks,dead friends and prison. This Is Your Life!
I enjoyed that show. I always thought it would be cool to be the kind of person who could get featured on it. I also knew from the first that I became aware of the program that I would never qualify. Of course, by the time I was in my mid-teens I was also convinced that had It's A Wonderful Life been made about me there wouldn't have been any of this, see, the world is a better place because of you message that George Bailey received. I still believe that had my life ended say ten years ago, that it might have indeed been better for everyone involved had I never been born. That said, I don't believe that is the case since I survived to this point, since I began traveling the Recovery Road in 2008 and finally found a life worth living through relationship with my Creator.
There actually may be people whose lives are better because they ran into me rather than worse because of my presence in their lives. I have found freedom, joy, love, peace and even love. But this better life worth living that doesn't suck the life and joy out of others and leave a path of destruction in its wake is not because of me. I don't have the power to live this wonderful life any more now than I did as an addict teen. On my own I am a selfish, self-centered, hedonist with no impulse control and no concern for the consequences of my actions, more times than not. But with and in relationship with God I have been given the power to live a different, a better life. It's the power of His might, not mine.
But that is one of the awesome things about God. He loves us thoroughly and furiously and wants relationship with us, even when we wouldn't qualify, couldn't qualify, don't deserve it and never will. He loves the losers, and the broken people and the fallen rebels. He loves to take the weak and share His strength and might with us so that we can be overcomers who positively effect and serve the lives of others. He loves to share His love through people you'd never expect.
My experience, my life, is proof that it doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done, God can still heal, restore, free and use you for His glory. And the relationship He enables us to have with Him will give us a life that is indeed wonderful and worth living. It is a life that has real joy, peace, love and purpose. It is a life in which we do not have to hang our head in shame of who we are or what we have done. You too can be free of the chains that bind, healed of the wounded heart and broken life. You can be one of the fallen who have mightied. But you can not mighty or empower yourself. You can't fix your brokenness yourself or on your own. He is an ever present help in time of trouble, and life is trouble. He is calling. He loves us.
If you too are sick and tired of being sick and tired, defeated and broken, unable to stop doing the things that you hate and that are killing you, and unable to do and be who you desperately wish you were and could be, there is a solution. Jesus is the answer. His love and grace give us the power to do what we could not do ourselves. He is the truth that makes us free. Surrender your heart and lose the life you hate while gaining a better life than you dream you can have. It worked for me.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment