Maybe you’ve never been behind physical bars, but is there something in your life holding you prisoner? What’s that “thing” that your mind goes to when nobody else is around? Is it keeping you up at night and possibly keeping your blood pressure up also? I think, if we’re being honest, we all have something in our individual lives that we’ve given way too much territory to. This “thing”, whatever it may be, seems to be making the rules. My friends, this should not be! About Jesus, the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:17-19 NLT)
This IS the good news! Jesus came to take the keys to all these personal prison doors and unlock them. Whether it be sickness, oppression or even blindness, He came to set the captives (us) free! He completely won this earthly battle we fight every day. If you belong to Him, you get to partake of His victory. That door that’s keeping you bound with that merciless jailer taunting you is only a means to distract you and keep you bound in fear. The door’s unlocked and the jailer is defeated! You are free in Christ to push that door open and walk out. The tactic of the devil is to make things seem like there’s nothing you can do. The Word of God says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NLT) That’s the key to your situation – Jesus!
God makes a way where there seems to be no way. Two of Christ’s disciples the Bible talks about found themselves in literal chains. But, they understood the principle that they belong to God and He gave them victory. Fear and anxiety do not get to make the rules. Jesus does! So, they praised God while bound in real chains anyway. “So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” (Acts of the Apostles 16:24-26 NLT) This is the God we serve! He knows where we are every second of our existence. He can move Heaven and earth to get to you. Why? Because He loves you and everything belongs to Him and obeys anyway.
We can choose to stay behind an unlocked prison door bound up in anxiety and fear or we can agree with God’s Word about our situation and move about freely. I’m not talking about denying reality. There’s situations in life that are completely real and terribly hard. However, these situations or things do not define you or your destiny. Your value and worth come from the Lord. He will walk you through every valley of life that comes your way in this messed up world and He’s already secured your eternal victory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31 NLT) There’s nothing stronger than The Creator!
So, if your mind is in absolute chaos, if your children are on the wrong path or sickness is dictating your day to day life, remind yourself of Who you belong to and what He’s capable of. There are no limits to what God can do for you. We just have to look to Him and take Him at His Word. He does not lie! His Word is truth and soothes our very souls. You’re able to walk unbound to fear in every circumstance because your Redeemer lives! Bust out of those prison doors!
Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.
