Set the Captives Free

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED TO BE SET FREE?

As Amanda* put her arms around me to comfort me, I could hear a voice within me saying, “I don’t trust you.  You don’t mean what you’re saying.  You’re just a phony!”  Yet as I heard those words within, I said to myself, “Why would I feel this way about Amanda?  She’s so kind and sincere.”  Little did I know then that I trusted no woman.  In fact I actually trusted no one. 

Some of you reading this title are probably saying, “Why is she even asking that question?  I know I’m not free; that’s why I picked up this book.  I’m depressed.  I’m full of sorrow and so on.”  Believe it or not, many people who wear a huge smile on their face are in greater bondage than the sorrowful looking ones.  I was one of them.

At first, I didn’t even know I needed to be set free.  Then, Jesus started that marvelous work down the path of freedom and uncovered those dark areas in my life where I was hurting and being tormented.  He knew they were preventing me from being all He wanted me to be.

For those of you who aren’t sure if you need to be set free in some area of your life, and for those who are sure, here is a list to prod and poke into your heart.  As you read it over, circle anything that causes you pain or discomfort.

Depressed                                            Distrust of people
Oppressed                                            Extremely suspicious
Fearful                                                  Stomach tightens when a certain
Crying a lot                                           person is mentioned
Bitter                                                    Chest pains when seeing certain
Anger you can’t let go of                       situations occurring
Suicidal                                                 Guilt
Feeling inadequate                                 Fear of death
Self-conscious                                       Fear of rejection
Feeling unloved                                     Isolation
Lack of childhood memories                   Unhappy
Not wanting to be touched                     Haunting memory
Overly clean                                         Lack of an important memory

Select one on the list that you’ve circled and concentrate on it alone as you read this book.  You can go back and choose others for another walk through this book but for now it’s important to only take one feeling at a time.  If you are experiencing an emotion that is not listed, write it on the page and circle it.  Write as many as you want; it’s your list.  Write whatever applies to you.

I want to assure you that God is sitting right there with you.  Talk to Him about your feelings and thoughts.  Jot them down in a journal.  Let Him begin to Set The Captive Free, which is you!

*All names have been changed for the purpose of privacy in their lives.