Unshackled Moments ~ October 31, 2018 ~ Not Ashamed Of My Crutch

This past weekend was pretty rough for me. No. It was very rough. I had the worst 48 hour period of PTSD symptoms that I have had in years. It was like a rolling surf, with wave after wave of triggers and the resulting issues. About the time I could catch my breath, sometimes before that, the next wave would hit, and it truly felt a bit like drowning.

God's grace was indeed sufficient though, and while I did not receive instant relief nor stay in a state of calm and perfect peace, I can look back on it and see much improvement over several years ago. I was sick, but never got to the point that I would have in the past. It didn't even occur to me to calm myself down or escape through alcohol or drugs, and I am very grateful for that. I didn't get in a fight with the guy that at the time I felt really needed a good beating and now that sanity has returned know didn't and it was just that fight or flight response in overdrive.

I even managed to tap into the grace to stop crying long enough to preach Sunday morning. While it wasn't pretty, and I wasn't well, I didn't go as far off the deep end as I have in the past. I am so grateful for that, and I know that it is because of Daddy. There is a reason why the Spirit is also known as the Comforter. It could have been a lot worse, and I knew that God was with me and wouldn't leave me to handle this on my own.

And that is a good thing, because there is no way I could have handled it on my own. One of the questions when dealing with mental illness is what is the goal of treatment? Are we seeking independence or healthy dependence. From the world's standpoint I need to be independent, and for the most part I am. But the truth is that I don't want to be tempted to try for independence. I want to remember always that my health, spiritual and otherwise, is contingent upon my dependence on Daddy.

Call my relationship with Jesus a crutch if you will. When people say things like that I used to joke that Jesus isn't a crutch; He's a stretcher, because you can't even limp your way into eternal life without Jesus. But the truth is that we have the wrong idea. A crutch is not a bad thing if you need one. A lame person with a crutch can do so much more than a lame person without one. The problem is that we don't like to see that we are crippled. We try to convince ourselves that we are healthy and able. But we are not. We are born with a spiritual disease that leads to death and destroys our life along the way. We all try to compensate and meet the need that comes from lack of relationship with our Creator. Some use work, good deeds and volunteering, some seek power and approval from others, some escape through chemicals or relationships or sex or or or or or or. The ways we try to solve the unmanageability of life, to quiet our fears and satisfy our longings for love, joy, peace and security are myriad. And some of the things we try work, for a while or to an extent. But they never work well for long. Only a relationship with Daddy can give us life that is worth living and give us the power to be the people we are created to be. He isn't a crutch as much as the provision for new legs, as the Spirit of God enables us to walk free from bondage. We can walk in life. Jesus really is the answer. So yes, I leaned heavily upon Him as the bottom fell out, because i am honest enough with myself to know that I am not able in my own strength to handle life. And I learned a long time ago that if we turn to Jesus first, He will never be a last resort and there is a lot less damage to clean up after the storm. I am grateful that He is an ever present help in time of need.  I am not ashamed to say that I need Jesus, because the only thing worse than being in need of a crutch is not knowing you need one. We can stop crawling through life and walk with Jesus.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 30, 2018 ~ Don't Get Stuck

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 13, 2015.

We live in a hectic and fast paced world. At times even our efforts to live and walk a spiritual life can be consumed and overwhelmed by plans and routines. I will pray this long and these certain prayers, and I will read this much material daily before rushing into the responsibilities of the day, etc. It is good and important to live a disciplined life, but do not forget to leave room for the extemporaneous move of the Spirit of God in our life. Do not let the routine that we design in order to get to know God better get in the way of experiencing relationship with Him. Let us not get so busy talking to God and thinking of Him that we forget to listen to Him. Take the time to be still and quiet before God and give Him a chance to speak to us as we start our days, go through them and wrap them up. Remember that no matter how good our intentions and well designed our daily disciplines are that sometimes in order to do something extraordinary through us He will have to have us step outside our ordinary schedule.

Lord, let me remain flexible to Your schedule changes and desires and not get so set in a routine that I turn my plan of spiritual action into a man-made law that makes it impossible for You to move through me and for me as You would like. Help me to remember that most of the 613 Mitzvot laws that the Pharisees created were first made in an  attempt to honor and serve You better but became a stumbling block that prevented them from keeping the spirit of Your law and seeing You in their midst when their tradition and routine became a rigid act of self-righteousness and more important than being led by Your Spirit. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 29, 2018 ~ Life And Death

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 12, 2015.

The moment I took my first breath, I began to die. When I take my last breath that is when I will become fully alive.

~ Leah Woodard

The above quote is from my wife, and my first response to it was, "This is so awesome and true!" Then, as I reflected on it a few moments later I realized it was deeper and more true than I had seen at first. It's easy to take a statement like this and see that we are all dying physically from the time we are born and that those who are believers will truly be well and have real life in eternity some day after we have closed our physical eyes for the last time. But there is more to it than that.

Not only did I begin to die physically from birth, but because of the curse of sin and death I began to die spiritually as well. We all did. Yes, there is a period of time when as innocent babes under the age of accountability we are blameless. But even during this time we are learning the path to death and destruction. From our earliest moments we learn that we are the center of the universe. Everything revolves around us and is about what we want. People around us coo and awe over us. They try to please us and make us smile and laugh. When we're hungry we cry and they feed us. When we need a diaper change we cry and they snap to. Life is about what we need and want and everyone else is there to serve us. Nothing matters and no one matters but us and our desires.

This is somewhat necessary behavior for a baby to survive, but as we grow, we don't escape it. Selfishness has taken root in our hearts and minds and controls our actions and reactions. Selfishness leads to death. Wanting our will over God's always results in destruction. Not because God is mean or wants to deprive us, but because in our selfishness we are blind to what is better. Then we encounter Jesus, and for those who respond to that encounter with "My Lord and My God," there is life. Relationship with God brings life rather than death. But the paradox is that in order to access that life we must die. As we die to self, we truly begin to live. So from the moment we learn to die, we learn to live. Not some day in heaven, but no, here, on earth. Even as our physical bodies are slowly but surely breaking down and heading to the grave, our spiritual bodies are growing and heading to life!

Lord, let me not wait for physical death to live in You. Let my life increase each and every day as I learn to die to self and surrender to Your will and life. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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 We Would Love Life

What do we do when it feels like God isn't hearing us and our prayers are going unanswered. On October 28, 2.018, Dalyn Woodard shares on how we can know and have confidence that God hears our prayers and how holding on to the truth that Daddy's love for us and His reception to our prayers are not based on our performance or rightness. The message "If We Would Love Life," is about 54 minutes long It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

You can listen to the 4 minute message, "Overwhelming Love" given by Wally Flynt here.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Photo "Old Time Religion" taken by Dalyn Woodard copyright Eclectic Imagery.

Overwhelming Love

It is amazing to know that we have someone who loves us perfectly, who can never love us more or less than completely. Wally Flynt shares on the great love that God has for us. The message, "Overwhelming Love" is about 4 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, October 28, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 27, 2018 ~ Spiritual Spell Check

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 11, 2015.

I am old, well, oldish. I am middle aged and often feel old. One example of my antiquity is that I remember the days before internet, or even computers in every house and pocket for the most part. I remember when a word processor was high tech and a typewriter with the ability to back up and correct mistakes felt like a wondrous thing. And spell check consisted of Mom and a dictionary.

Those days there wasn't anyone or anything sitting at my shoulder telling me that I was spelling something wrong before I even finished the word. Today as I write I get these lovely, annoying red lines under words that make me pause and back up. The sad thing is I've grown less vigilant with my spelling. In days of old I had to struggle to remember all the spelling rules and exceptions to those rules as I put pen to paper. Today I rarely use a pen and don't think about those rules much. If I can't remember how to spell something while writing an Unshackled Moment for example, I will type it in and respond to the red line by checking to see what the computer suggests. If I get close enough, the suggestions will usually have the word I meant. If not, it's time to open a new tab, type my error and let Google ask me if I meant to search for....

This is not really the best way to go when it comes to writing. I believe that it is important to learn how to spell and why words are formed the way that they are. But spiritually I find that the more I rely on Spirit checker the better off I am. First, Spirit check is perfect and way more accurate than my computer spell check.  The Spirit not only knows what I mean but what I should. When I focus on learning the laws and rules I begin to try to live righteously by my own understanding and power. Inevitably that leads to mistakes and failure. When I focus my attention on keeping the format so that there are no red lines in my life, I take my attention from the Master I serve to the task. Eyes on the task doesn't sound all that bad, but even doing good can distract from relationship with God, and relationship is what it is all about. But I can write with ease, not careless, but unstressed about the formalities, if my attention is on the only One who is righteous and able to maintain perfection. As long as my motives are love and getting closer to and serving Him, I can trust that if I start to get off course with my thinking, attitude, motives, etc., if I am heading in a direction that will take me or others further from God instead of closer to Him, the Holy Spirit can and will auto correct me, as long as I stay in a place of submission and surrender.

Unlike my spell check which sometimes doesn't know words that are actually spelled right, or doesn't know the word I meant so allows a correctly spelled mistake to stand in my writing, the Holy Spirit knows. He is better able to keep me right and on course and in the format that I need to live than I ever could, no matter how much I learn and strive to apply what I learn. And I still learn. I've noticed that the more I pay attention to when and why the Spirit backs me up and makes corrections that the less He has to do it. But when I start trying to write my life like I know how, I glance back to see way too much red on my days.

Lord, I know that how my life is written matters. Help me to strive more to learn about who You are than about proper spiritual "grammar," so that I can stay in submission and under the control of the Spirit. Auto correct me to Your will all through this day and the days to come before I even finish the thought or act or response that is wrong. Where I insist on typing it out, take me back and correct me before it is published and distracts from the prose You intend to write with my life. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 26, 2018 ~ My Stupid Cat

Leah and I have no central heat and air as the unit needs to be repaired (hopefully) or replaced. We can't afford either, so we have done without for most of the year. We have an electric fireplace in the bedroom that we use to keep from freezing now that the temperatures have dropped and have had to run it about half of the last dozen or so nights.

This evening, as I left the bedroom for the study to do my evening meditations, review my day and write this Moment for tomorrow, I saw the cat sitting on the top of the heater. She began  to do this often about the same time that we began running it. The wood doesn't get hot, but it does stay warm when the unit is on, and I don't blame her for taking advantage of the ledge to warm herself on these cool days. Except the heater isn't on. We haven't had it on at all today, so the surface is not warm. The room is cool, but not uncomfortably so, and the temperature won't drop lower tonight than it will take an extra blanket on the bed to keep my wife and I warm. So, save the electricity and leave the heater off. But the cat perched upon it with a look on her face like, "Why isn't this working?"

Stupid cat. That's a quote by the way. That's what I said when I saw her.But upon further reflection, she isn't any more stupid than I am. I have done this many times, and I know a lot of other people who have as well. In fact, it's common. No, I'm not referring to sitting on heaters that aren't working expecting to be warmed, but something similar.

We all have spiritual needs that must be filled in order to be healthy in other areas of life. When we become aware of the increasing cold in the God-shaped void, we try to fill it with something that will make us warm, that will make us feel the ache less or satisfy the need, at least temporarily.There are almost as many different ways and combination of ways to try to fill that emptiness as there are people. And some of them work, at least a little, at least for a while. Until they don't.

That's when  we begin acting like my stupid cat. We believe, as shown by our actions, that if we do more of, or keep trying, or sit in that situation longer, what once worked but no longer does will suddenly start working again. If you're a drunk and  a druggie like me, long after the destruction and misery of a life ruled by chemicals far outweighs the benefits, even the imagined ones, you will continue to return to  that well. This time will be different. This time will be like it once was.

Maybe you can't relate to that. Maybe chemicals aren't your answer. But we all have one. Maybe more than one. Something we turn to in order to answer the need. Something with which we try to fill the emptiness. Something we look to give us warmth, comfort, safety, joy, life besides the One created us with that space that only He can fill. He didn't do it to leave us hanging and unsatisfied. He did it because we were created for relationship with Him. He loves us as we are, not as we should be, and His greatest desire is for us to turn to Him to meet that need for life. He longs to be our salvation now. Not to  give us a ticket to heaven somewhere down the road, but to be our source of a life worth living, that warmth that brings contentment even as life grows cold and harsh at this moment, on this  side of eternity.

Let us not be like a cat who tries to get warmth from a heater that isn't producing heat. Let us not look for life in people, places, situations and things that can not provide it.  Instead, let us be quick to turn to our Daddy and let Him fill our lives.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Trust The Provider

Sometimes we slip into thinking that God, particularly the God of the Old Testament is a harsh God and we begin trusting our ability to please Him and or the gifts He gives us rather than trusting Him. Dalyn Woodard shares on how the story of Abraham offering up Isaac shows that God truly loves us and that we should trust the giver rather than putting our hope in the gift. The message, "Trust In The Provider," is about 52 minutes long, and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on October 24, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

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.

Reflections

Can we know who we are and what we really look like? Wally Flynt shares on how what we think about ourselves and how we see see and ourselves and what we reflect effects everything in our life. The message, "Reflections" is about 4 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, October 21, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 20,2018 ~ Jesus Wants You Dead

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 10, 2015.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matthew 36:34-25

Some folks will tell you that Jesus wants us to be rich and happy, to be free from trouble, heartache and want. But Jesus wants us dead. That's right. Jesus wants you dead. Yes, He also wants you to prosper, but if He gives life that the world doesn't give, where on earth did we get the idea that He wants us to prosper as the world prospers. It's the world's idea that to prosper means to want for nothing because you have all you want. It's not about what you want. It's about what He wants for us. What Jesus wants for us is so much more satisfying and fulfilling and yes, prosperous than the wealth and fame and power that we could imagine for ourselves.

God doesn't want to give us gold and influence and glory except in ways that will be of service to others and brig him glory. But He does want to give us peace, joy and love. Real peace that doesn't make sense and can't be taken away. Real joy that doesn't depend on our circumstances. Real love that isn't fickle and doesn't fade away, the kind of love we claim we would die for. Well, that's the price. We die. We die to our selves, our selfish desires, our me first attitude, our what's in it for me motivation. We become new creatures with a new life and a new spirit. We give up our life and get a better one. But you don't get the new life without the old life dying.

Lord I surrender to who You are, and I declare that You are Lord and God, King of my life. Help me to put to death my old nature, my selfishness, my desire to have my way, today. Let me say as Jesus did, not my will be Yours be done in every situation I face today. Thank You for Your great love and desire to give me life that is rich and full and satisfying, and help me to remember that Your gifts are not temporary as the world gives and seeks.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 19, 2018 ~ Subtle Selfishness

Sometimes it's so easy to spot selfishness and self-centeredness in ourselves and in others. But what about the times when we can hide our self-centeredness behind what we are doing for others? These situations can make it easier to keep self alive because the result is not as obviously destructive.

Can it be true that to help someone can be as self-centered as disregarding the needs and feelings of others to do what I want? The answer is yes. Coming to this understanding of what it means to deny self and follow Jesus comes with growth. After cutting down the ugly and obvious thorn bushes of self-will run riot, there comes a time when we need to dig out the roots, what's not obvious and lives under the surface, in order to slow the return of the weeds that choke out the life of love and service.

I came to the realization one day that I didn't want anything to do with anything or anyone that didn't have anything to do with me. My motives for compassion and service were not pure. They were selfish. I cared about the people and things that effected my life. I wanted to help others when it would make my life better to do so. When it would bring me acceptance, praise, or even simply a feeling of worth.

I helped others find freedom so that I could keep my own freedom. Helping other addicts helped keep me sober. I wanted to be of service because it made me feel good. It made me look better. Yes, he was a horrible person when in his cups and in the chains of addiction, but look at him now. Service was a way for me to overcome the past and balance the scales. Even when service wasn't the issue, I cared about people that seemed to care about me while living a life of apathy towards people I didn't know or who where indifferent towards me.

This is where many start. I've heard in more than one meeting that the quickest way to help ourselves is to help someone else. It's so much easier to resist the temptation of destructive selfishness when we are actively trying to encourage, strengthen and help someone else. It's easier to believe that I am not worthless as a human being when I begin doing things that make the lives of others better instead of wreaking havoc. So, helping others to help ourselves is a natural place to start, and that's OK. What's not OK is staying there. If we stay at the start we are not growing and making progress. Motives matter.

I am certainly not advocating not helping others or waiting until we can have 100% purely altruistic motives before we are of service. Service and  compassion are essential components to following Jesus and living a life worth living. I am also not saying that we should fail to appreciate that are ability to care for others besides ourselves shows growth and change, makes us feel good and even brings acceptance and praise from others. Those are good fruits. But let us not chase the fruit, enjoy it, be grateful for it, but we shouldn't allow it to be our motivation. Let us be willing to submit to the Spirit in such a way that we see when our motives become selfish and learn to love like Jesus loves. Let us desire to be so filled by the Spirit that loving others and caring and compassionate service become simply about that love and being like Jesus so that we are just as quick to care for those who don't care about us and just as quick to serve when it doesn't bring us glory or praise or because we need something ourselves.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Know Him

If you know what someone wants from a relationship, you can evaluate their heart towards those in that relationship. Dalyn Woodard shares on the one thing that God wants the most for us and what it means for us. The message, "Know Him," is about 41 minutes long, and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on October 17, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen.

If you missed the first message in the series "The Daddy Heart Of God," entitled "Redirected By Love," it can be found here. The second message, "God Is Light," can be found here. The third message, "You Are Beloved," can be found here. The fourth message, "You Have Overcome," can be found here. The fifth message, "The Trouble Of Tribbles." can be found here. The sixth message, "Who's Your Jesus?," can be found here. The seventh message, "Truth Tattoo," can be found here. The eighth message, "Who's Your Daddy?," can be found here. The ninth message, "Responding To God And Others," can be found here. The tenth message, "Relationship, Religion Or Rebellion," can be found here. The eleventh message, "Follow The Yellow Brick Road," can be found here. The twelfth message, "Know Love No Fear," can be found here. The thirteenth message, "The Father, Family And Freedom," can be found here. The fourteenth message, "You Can Know," can be found here, and the fifteenth message, "What Daddy Wants," can be found here.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 17, 2018 ~ Healthy Dependence

In our society we place a high value on independence. So much so that needing someone, being dependent is considered unhealthy and weak. It is dangerous to be totally dependent on someone else. What happens if something happens to them? What if they betray you or let you down? If you are totally dependent on a relationship and that relationship fails, how will you make it? And these concerns are valid and true when it comes to human relationships.

But when  it comes to what matters most, there  is no such thing as a spiritually healthy independent person. An independent spirituality is the one that will fail. The above concerns are no longer valid, because God will not fail us, reject us or desert us, and therefore once we become dependent on Him we will never reach a point where we have to figure out how to make it on our own. In order to be healthy spiritually we must be totally dependent on God. He is our Daddy. We are His children. Like a young child can not survive and be healthy independently but needs a caregiver, so we need God.

Since we belong to the family of God, this is also an area where we don't stand alone even in our relationship with Him. We have brothers and sisters. We were created for relationship, first with our Creator and then with one another. It's not just about marriage that God said it is not good for us to be alone. There are times when we need, and when we do, our brothers and sisters are there to encourage, comfort and help us. At other times, we are to be that help to others.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 16, 2018 ~ Rescue

I saw this before and after image of a rescue dog, and it touched my heart. The difference between the mangy mess and the result of care is amazing. Most of us have seen images of emaciated strays and neglected animals that make us cringe. The suffering of strays saddens.

People who care about animals hate seeing one suffer need for sustenance, medical treatment and love. It's a natural instinct for those with compassion to either want to help or get help for a starving, sick, hurt and suffering stray.

So imagine, if you will, such a stray is coming around. It is starving. Every rib shows. It's hair is gone. There are open sores. It looks like it will be dead soon if something doesn't change. Do you A) try to determine if it is the strays fault it is in that shape or if it is deserving of help or B) simply ignore cause and care? Do you A) go to the stray and describe your home with plenty to eat and shelter and tell it to take care of itself, get healthy and well and you'll let it become your companion or B) gently coax it to you, understanding it will be skittish and mistrusting, treat its wounds, feed it and provide comfort and shelter?

I can't imagine anyone expecting the animal to rescue itself, to treat its own wounds and miraculously feed itself in order to deserve a loving, safe shelter. And my question is if we wouldn't expect this with an animal in need, why do we expect it of people, of ourselves? The even bigger question is if we would never make an animal rescue and care for, fix, itself, why do we think for a moment that God does that with us?

All of us have gone astray. Like it or not, we are or have been strays. Out in the world on our own we get hurt, we hurt ourselves, we become distrusting, we become malnourished, and we dream of shelter, of a safe place where we are cared for and loved and where there is health and plenty. Daddy sees our need and offers to meet it. He invites us to become a part of the family, promising to care for us, to clean us up, treat our wounds and feed us. His heart longs to rescue us and restore us to wholeness and health.

God doesn't want us to scrounge around and try to rescue ourselves. He doesn't demand that we nurse ourselves back to health and figure out how to provide for our needs before we earn the right to be His companion and child. He doesn't  interview us to see if we are victims or if we are the masters of our own mess. In fact, the longer we try to take care of ourselves the worse off we become, and if we don't give up trying and run to Him, we will die. We need to remember that God is good and would not treat us worse than we would treat a stray animal. Stop trying to make yourself good enough, well enough to deserve a home and accept that He made a home for you where you can find healing and sustenance and shelter, and most of all where you can be fully and completely loved.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 15, 2018 ~ Worthless Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 9, 2015.

A weed is a plant that is not valued where it is growing,

that often crowds or chokes out desired and cultivated plants and that is unwanted or undesired. This beautiful yellow flower is known as Bitterweed. I stopped yesterday and took this picture after seeing this field completely covered in the lovely yellow blooms. When I see this plant, I think flower. I love them and look forward to them every year. How could something so beautiful be considered a weed.

Well, they may be lovely to look at, but they're not great for farmers. Bitterweed will choke out more desirable plants and grasses. Cattle don't graze on it much, and that's good, because in large quantities, Bitterweed is toxic to cattle. Honey bees will mostly leave this plant alone as well, and when they don't, the resulting honey is extremely bitter. So what I see as a beautiful blessing of spring and summer in East Texas is seen by others as not only a weed, but literally a bitter and hated weed.

Often we fall short of seeing the beauty and value of our own lives. We treat ourselves as though we are weeds, undesired and having no value. That's fine with the enemy, because Satan sees us as weeds too. If we are living for God and walking by the power of the Spirit we are of no value and dangerous to his system. We bloom and can be spotted so easily in a way that attracts others. We are not compatible to the ecosystem that Satan tries to maintain. In fact, we're toxic to it, causing the surrounding area to be transformed. He hates that and would like  to mow us down or pull us up by our roots. But God looks at us and smiles. He loves the fragrance and beauty of our blooms. Whether something is a weed or flower is largely determined by it's value and desirability. Whenever we start feeling like worthless weeds, let us remember that God created us flowers.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Heart Transplant

It's nice and common to encourage ourselves with the idea that we are good enough. But what happens in those times when we are confronted with the evidence that this is simply not true? Dalyn Woodard shares on the common responses to the need of "enoughness" and the one option that provides a solution. The message, "Heart Transplant" is about 16 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, October 14, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 13, 2018 ~ Surviving Saturday

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 8, 2015.

The days following the resurrection must have been great for the disciples. Jesus came back! Sunday had to be a day of celebration, but the next days may have been even better as they got over the shock of His return and got to spend some time with Jesus. I don't know. It's all supposition on my part, and I could be wrong.

What I do know is that no matter how wonderful Resurrection Sunday and the days that followed may have been, Saturday sucked. That particular Saturday is the one day in history since Christ's birth where no one believed Jesus is alive. He lived part of Friday, and He lived again Sunday morning, but Saturday He was dead, and not one person believed differently.

Friday brought calamity. Destruction and death shook the very foundation of everything. The disciples faith shook as much as the earthquake shook the ground. Any prayers they lifted up to change the situation, to spare Jesus, seemed to fall on deaf ears. If they missed the not my will but yours part of the Gethsemane prayer at the time and thought only of Jesus praying for deliverance, then it appeared that even the Master's prayers went unanswered. Jesus Himself cried out the question of why God would forsake Him. With Friday came the cries to God, and nothing changed, or at least didn't get better. It only got worse. The worst case scenario had happened. God didn't answer the prayers and Jesus died a horrible death.

Saturday though was a day of hopeless silence. Everything they had hoped for was over and done. God had waited too long to answer their cries (Never mind Lazarus and four days dead, we forget that kind of thing when our current situation crosses the line into impossible). How hard those Saturdays feel! Fridays are bad enough when everything starts to go wrong and we reach that point when it becomes obvious that God isn't going to stop it, change it or fix it our way. Saturday we feel forsaken, adrift and directionless, and unsure what to do. During those silent times in life when the dream has died and it doesn't feel like God cares, we need to wait.

We need to wait. Weeping may last all night, but joy comes in the morning. The disciples didn't feel and know that Sunday morning would be a day of celebration as the Father would raise Jesus up and bring something multiple times better than what they had wanted Friday. We may not know what God plans to do, but whenever He says no and seems to leave us hanging there's something amazing in our Easter around the corner. Just wait and remember that God loves providing the light of joy after periods of darkness and despair. The Saturdays aren't the end, they are the tension before the grand victorious climax!

Abba, help me not to lose heart during the Saturdays of life. Help me not to get angry at not getting my way on Friday and run from You. May these periods be times of continuing to seek You regardless of my feelings and emotions, and may I eagerly anticipate the resurrection and life of the third day. Amen

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Echo ~ October 12, 2018 ~ Learning From A Toddler

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

April 7, 2015.

This afternoon my wife and I were blessed to be able to lunch with her two adult children and our grandson. The food was sub par, but the company rocked, especially my grandson, Baiden. Baiden is almost two years old now and a true joy to have around. He sat in a high chair at the end of our table. Time and time again as people walked by, Baiden would smile, wave and say hi. No one even glanced his way or acknowledged him, but Baiden was not deterred. He would do it again as they came back by on their return trip from the restroom, or he would eagerly try the next person. No one responded, or paid him any attention, but he kept right on smiling and greeting. Finally one man said hi back, and Baiden engaged in a back and forth of smiles and salutations until we left the restaurant.

Jesus said if we want to be His we need to come as little children. I know this is not exactly what He meant, but I think it's part of it. Baiden loved on everyone that came near. Their response or lack of it didn't effect him or change his behavior one bit. The next time he saw them he tried again.

The next person that came by got the same attention and love no matter how many times he'd already been ignored. Oh that we could be that childlike, to meet and greet each person with smiles and love, and if they ignore us, just keep loving, keep waving, keep smiling, keeping treating each person that we run into or that comes our way as though we are happy to see them and want to interact with them. That's how Jesus was, That's how children are. That's how we can be when we are filled with the love of the Spirit.

Lord, help me to welcome and love as You do, as Baiden did. Let me not be discouraged  by apparent lack of response or negative responses. Let me love at every opportunity. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 11, 2018 ~ Why I Don't Look For The Good In Others

Do you try to see the good in everyone? I used to. I received and believed the message long before there even was social media. Inspirational quotes and memes and Sunday School teachers and even folks in the rooms of recovery spread the idea that we need to look for the good in everyone as though it were gospel. Here's why I don't do it anymore.

No, it's not that I don't believe that there is good in everyone. I believe that there is at the very least the potential for good in everyone. Nobody breathing is beyond redemption. It's not because it's hard to do sometimes. It's easier to see the good in some than others, but I didn't stop looking for the good in others because it can be hard or disappointing. One day I saw someone post that we need to look for the good in others, and I thought to myself, "Why?"

I'm not being flippant. Have you ever stopped for a second to ask why you believe it is good or necessary to see the good in people? We have been so indoctrinated with this that the knee jerk response may be because we all have good in us and we need to look for that or something similar, which is pretty much like saying the sky is blue because it is. But seriously, why do we see this as a good thing or a necessary thing to do?

I really did think about it, and here's what I came up with. I look to see the good in you so that I can see that you have value, so that I have a reason to treat you better, and, hopefully, so that I can help you to like yourself and treat yourself better. If I don't see anything good in or about you, it's far too easy for me to treat you poorly, to despise and reject you, to act as though you are insignificant and not worth my time, patience, compassion or love. You don't deserve my respect or even to be treated like a human being of value, and therefore you are not. But this is not true, we know this, even when we don't. People have value, and treating one another as though we don't makes the world a hurtful, hateful place. When I recognize that there is good in you, it becomes easier to believe that you deserve kindness. And if I can point out that good to you, then perhaps I can encourage you to believe that you are not worthless and help you to stop making destructive choices. Maybe I can convince you that you are worthy, that you deserve kindness, even from yourself.

But where is the grace in that? Is the Jesus in me cheering me on as I seek to balance the evaluation and what I judge you deserve by looking for  the good in  you? No. In fact what the Spirit told me as I thought about this was, "Aren't you glad that I didn't base the way I treat you and love you on what you deserve?" Jesus didn't set the line at 50% good, or even 5% good. He didn't say I love you if there is at least a little good in you. Your value is not based on how much good verses bad you are.

God said that you have value, so much so that He was willing to die to make it possible for you to  have relationship with Him. He loves you as you are, not as you should be, and no matter what you've done or what's been done to you, He calls you to come to Him and let Him be your Daddy. He is good to us, and His mercies are new every morning. Jesus humbled Himself, wrapped Himself in flesh, to serve, to give of Himself, and, ultimately, to sacrifice Himself for us in our place. The Spirit wants to make His home within us to guide us to life, to heal and restore and comfort us, and to make us new and whole. And not one bit of that has anything at all to do with what we deserve or how much good is or isn't to be found in our hearts. If I am good is not a factor in the equation.

Jesus did not come to die for us because He saw the good in us. He didn't come to bring out the good in us or to help us be better. He came to make us new, to transform us, because He loves us. And He came to call us to follow Him. It doesn't help me or you for me to encourage you to be good and see the good in yourself. Your value is not based on your goodness. You are not significant because you are good. Your worth is not established by the percentage of goodness. We are not fruit that is bruised but not yet totally bad and therefore worth something, even if not full price. Our value is based on God saying we are worth everything to Him, and for the joy of having us able to come to Him, He gladly paid the full price of the cross.

When I look for the good in myself to make myself feel worth something, then I put the pressure on my performance and my goodness. If I want to feel less worthless, I need to be better and do better. And that leads to hopelessness and despair, because I can never be good enough. I either have to eventually lower the bar and grade on the curve or give up trying. Or I crush myself under the burden of performance. And if that is true when I look within, how is it less true when I look at others, at you? Looking for the good in you to call you worthy and encouraging you to see the good in yourself and see yourself as worthy because of it is a very Pharisee thing to do, and Jesus said it is a burden that kills.

On the other hand, when I let the fact that I am loved by God determine my value, everything changes. It is no longer that I am not worthless because I am good, or at least not all bad. It is I am not worthless because Jesus loves me and says I am worth dying for. The burden is gone. He didn't determine my value or how much He loves me based on my performance, and my performance won't, can't. change it for good or ill. That changes how I treat you. I don't treat you as though you have value and are significant because there is good in you. I am not kind to you because you deserve it. I love you because He loves you. I know you have value, whether I see any good or not, because He says you are worth dying for and He wants you to come and be part of the family.

I no longer try to help you by pointing out your good and trying to convince you that there is good in you. I don't ever say, "You do this and don't do this so can't you see you aren't worthless?" I don't want to put a weight on you that I can't bear myself. I declare that you are not worthless! But not because you are good. It is because God loves you and appraised you as precious. He wants to take all aspects of deserve out of it and gladly paid full price to redeem you and make you His, so that He can be your Daddy and heal you and restore you to the beautiful unique reflection of Him that you were created to be.

So basically, I don't look for the good because I don't care about it. No matter how good you are, you aren't good enough. None of us are. I don't care what you deserve or don't deserve or if I can see your worth in my evaluation or your actions. I trust God's appraisal,  and He says you are worth everything, even the life of His Son. That is a much better way to inspire me to be kind, loving and compassionate to you than your performance. And since I do care about you and want to help you, I would encourage you to not only stop trying to balance the scales but throw them out. Stop trying to see yourself as something other than worthless because of how much good you see in yourself or how well you perform. Forget that and remember that Jesus loves you as you are, not as you should be,but He loves you enough not to leave you as you are.



This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 10, 2018 ~ Don't Fear The Light

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

- Marianne Williamson

I heard this quote for the first time this evening and looked it up.  I have not read the book it comes from and do not know if it is good or not. I saw enough in the text around it to know that the way I began to think when I heard it is out of context and not the way the author intended. I used the quote, because it is hers. I may be about to butcher it, as far as what she intended is concerned, but that sentence is hers, and I believe in giving credit where credit is due.

The second I heard this, I thought, "Man, that is so true." Williamson's idea is that we are afraid to be as big as we are, to be the children of God that we are. I am not saying she's wrong. I am not saying that's not true. But I am saying there is another way to take that sentence when it stands alone that is also true.

It's been almost a year since the fire that came close to costing Leah and I our home. I remember getting the fire out and using fans to suck out the smoke. I knew there was damage. I knew it wasn't good. But I didn't know. I couldn't see. It was too dark. But once the smoke cleared enough that I could get in and shine light in the room, my heart sank and my stomach turned. The light confirmed what I knew, killed any hope that maybe things weren't as bad as I feared and made it impossible to pretend it away.

Instinctively we understand this idea. We get hurt. We know we're hurt. We can feel it. But we dread looking, because that will make it more real, will make us unable to ignore the damage or pretend it isn't that bad. This hurt could be material, physical, mental, emotion and or spiritual.

Those of us who have lived in darkness, have a tendency to run from God, because we fear the light. We fear the confirmation of how much damage has been done, just how big of a mess things really are. One of my favorite quotes from Steve Camp is:

The closer I get to You I see I'm a stranger to Your holiness.

I can relate to this, because it is true for me. The closer I get to Daddy, the more I see how far I am from right, from being OK as I am. That's because when the light is low, I can't see exactly how much dirt is in the room. But when I turn the light on brighter, even the small specks stand out. Light is revealing, and it is frightening when we know we're not clean, or that we're broken and damaged.

But here's the thing about the fire last year. Yes, seeing how bad it was hurt. It was heartbreaking. But it was also necessary to know exactly what needed to be repaired and replaced. It was necessary to have enough light to see to do the work. Leah held a light for me more than once so that I could see to drive nails, for example. The light is scary, but it is also necessary.

The good news is that our fears are unfounded Seeing the blood gushing from a wound does not actually make the wound worse. We'll bleed out just as quickly in the dark. We need the light to see how to stop the bleeding. And God, who is light (1 John 1), already knows our mess. Letting  Him reveal it to  us doesn't surprise Him. It doesn't make Him want to hurt us or reject us. He knows our wounds and our sin.  His greatest desire to is to shine the light that enables life and healing. He wants to clean us up, restore, repair and replace what needs to be healed and make us new. We don't need to fear the light or Him. He loves us. So while it is scary to look at the damage, let us not shrink back. Instead let us remember that this is the first step. Seeing the need. And it is what enables the work that leads to life.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. 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 and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend 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.

Unshackled Moments ~ October 9, 2018 ~ Lake Of Communication

Relationships can be ruined by lake of communication. No, that is not a typo or an auto correct mistake, at least not on my part. This came across my Twitter feed because someone I follow liked it, and I noticed that over 2000 others have liked it as well. My first thought was, "Are that many people willing to ignore the typo and like the message? That's awesome!" We get so rigid and nit picky sometimes that we throw away some good ideas because they're not perfect or perfectly delivered.

But then I thought, "Wait. What if it's not a typo? What if the originator really did mean lake of communication rather than lack?" It could still be true. In fact, it could even be more true. It is as dangerous, if not more so, to the life of a relationship to say too much instead of saying too little. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't share the truth of how we feel and what we think. Honest communication is important. But not everything we say impulsively is true. I'm not saying that we're lying as much as we say things in the heat of anger, frustration, confusion and as reaction to someone else's words or deeds that we can regret the second we say them.

But once the words fly, they can never return to us without impacting along their flight path. Someone forgiving us and understanding that we didn't really mean it does not mean that we didn't cause damage.

Sometimes we use the concept of rigorous honesty to be cruel. The truth must be true, but it never has to be brutal. Jesus is truth, and He is love, which means that the truest truths can always be spoken in love. It may be true for me to point out the mistakes of others, but what is the point? What is the motivation behind doing so? There are times when we need our mistakes shown to use to help us correct and grow. Other times that revelation only brings shame, condemnation and hopeless because we already know. The words may be true but they are a hammer pounding us. If our words won't reveal truth that isn't already known by the hearer, edify, encourage, strengthen, build up and give hope, if they don't make someone understand that they have value and are cared for, then most likely it would be better if they dried up on on our lips rather than contribute to the flood waters that bury others beneath the lake of condemnation, criticism and feelings of worthlessness and shame.

Finally, especially for those like me who are verbal processors, if we just start talking, writing, texting, messaging.....communicating, without thinking it through, we may be half way through what we were going to say before we realize we were wrong and way off base. Or it may not be until the receiver reacts our of hurt and anger that we realize that we didn't communicate in a way that could be understood the way we intended. One of the keys in recovery when it comes to relationships is restraint of pen and tongue (and keyboard). James 1:19-20 puts it this way, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

We need to acknowledge our feelings, and our feelings are real. But they are not always truth. It sometimes causes more harm than good to a relationship to just dump and spew all our thoughts and feelings into the lake of communication. Instead, let us dump and rant in prayer to God. Then, when we have sorted out what is real, what is true, what is necessary for strengthening relationship, through the guidance of the Spirit we can speak life and truth into the matter.

It doesn't have to be a flood or a drought when it comes to communication. Let us keep the water levels high enough to give life, remembering the Jesus is the living water and we need the Spirit to guide our words, but let us not drown others on a lake of destruction with our words. Speak truth. In love. Or don't speak.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

- Ephesians 4:29

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