“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
Dear Lord Jesus, as I meditate my way with you through the streets of Galilee to Jerusalem during this season of Lent, I’m realizing how FAR I am from the destination called consummate freedom.
Indeed, you are the Son of God and God the Son, and you’ve already set me free from tying to earn my salvation though religion and being “good”… from trying to make God love me more by ramping up my obedience and decreasing my foolishness. You’ve already liberated me from all condemnation for my sin… from all punishment for my sins… from the fear of Judgment Day… from the fear of dying… from the fear of living… from the fear of the future. All of this is enormous, Jesus, flat out HUGE… and I sing and dance before you with wonder, love and praise.
And yet, and so very yet, I am still a babe, a neophyte, a raw rookie in so many gospel-freedoms. Jesus, please free me to get less irritated more often with fewer people. Please turn my quick reactions into wiser responses. Please help me to use less words, but more kindness to preach the gospel.
Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current thing. Please help me make better eye contact and heart contact with people. Please make me more intrigued with strangers and less uncomfortable around them.
Jesus, please break more of the chains of my insecurities. Please free me from the grave-clothes of my fears about not being enough. Please unfetter me from thinking too much about what I’m not, by showing me more of you and who I am in you.
Jesus, please free me for greater spontaneity, louder laughter, quicker tears, thicker skin and a bigger heart. So very Amen, I pray, in your most liberating name.