ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author and poet, an editor and a designer of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a monthly contributor to PursueMagazine.net. She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and her books focus on winning life’s spiritual battles. She had the privilege of compiling Breaking the Chains, which released this spring. Katy loves spending time with family and friends, traveling to new places, and discovering the best-tasting gluten free food. She makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with her at her blog, Life with God, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Shuffle, shuffle, drag. Shuffle, shuffle, drag. When we’ve said yes to a negative attitude, it can become like a chain that we have to drag with us every day. At home, at school, with friends. It attaches itself to us, and even though we don’t want it sticking to us, it’s hard to shake it loose. Know what I mean?
Do you need to be free of an angry spirit? Do you find yourself depending too much on self instead of God? How about overcoming fear or loneliness? Saying yes to these things can create a bondage to them—an inability to break free. A bondage that we need God’s help to break. He’s willing to help us. Every time. Are we willing to do what’s necessary to break the chains that bind us?
In the new book, Breaking the Chains, you’ll find proven strategies for overcoming such chains as anger, self-reliance, fear, loneliness, low self-esteem, and bad thoughts. As God’s children, we don’t have to allow these things to take over our lives. With God’s help, we can overcome these spiritual hang-ups and live free of them. Free to enjoy God and life with Him. Free to be a great friend. Free to pursue God’s dreams for us, dreams that are often bigger than our own. But dreams and chains don’t go together. It will be hard to realize our dreams if we go through life with a “shuffle and drag” reality.
Don’t let anything hold you back from the freedom God wants you to have. Use Scripture and proven strategies to break your chains and flourish in your relationships and the adventures God has for you.
This week, Tessa and I are holding a giveaway for an e-book copy of Breaking the Chains and a brass necklace whose pendant says “Freedom.” To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below (the giveaway will be open for one week starting today). This book shares personal stories of struggles and victory, relevant Scripture, and many ways to overcome spiritual chains. Twenty people have contributed to this book, passing along twenty perspectives on how to break free. We also have some great short stories that illustrate a particular struggle and how to overcome it.
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| Enter the giveaway to receive this necklace! Details above. |
Are you shuffling and dragging something right now? Don’t let any chains keep you from experiencing life with God as He designed it. Depend on His help, form a battle plan for victory, and break the chains that are holding you back. Freedom doesn’t have to be a distant dream. It can be your reality.
Question for you: How would you define the word "freedom"?
Freedom is letting go of the past and embracing the future God has given you.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful definition. Thank you, "Just Me"! You are now entered for the giveaway. :)
DeleteFreedom is the new life we're given through Christ.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely frees us from the power of sin and its penalty. Thanks for answering!
DeleteI love this so much! One of my favorite books is "7 Steps to Freedom in Christ," and it has completely changed my life. To me, freedom is the ability to be whole in Christ. <3
ReplyDeleteThat is a special definition, Stephanie. To link wholeness with freedom. Thank you for sharing that and for entering our giveaway!
DeleteThis is an important question especially at this time in our nation. It's also interesting and by no means a mistake that I am challenged to answer this question myself. I've recently been bound by the prison of brokenness. So I'd have to say freedom is a state of mind despite the circumstances and the people around you that try to keep you in shackles.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said makes me think of the Christians who are persecuted around the world. They may be in physical chains, but their spirits are free in Christ. And the church is thriving in certain places despite the persecution.
DeleteThank you for sharing. I pray God builds up your strength, joy, and peace in a closeness to Himself! Freedom is a treasure worth guarding.
Freedom is no longer being in bondage to sin but set free to serve Christ with a whole hearted devotion and willing mind.
ReplyDelete"A whole hearted devotion and willing mind" - that adds something to freedom that we need to remember. We can respond in gratefulness for our freedom in Christ and loyally walk with Him and serve Him. Thank you, Cherrilynn!
DeleteFreedom is the opportunity to view a situation from varying angles, weighing them against God's Word, and taking action according to the Spirit's leading. A byproduct of that freedom is peace.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have to be enslaved to negativity or the world's way of thinking. Thank you for sharing that, Sharron! Peace is a wonderful blessing that comes with freedom.
DeleteFreedom is the peace that surpasses our understanding in the middle of any difficult situation that we are enduring.
ReplyDeletePeace guards our hearts and minds like Scripture says! No matter the intensity of the difficulty, we don't have to be enslaved to fear or worry. We can trust God to care of us. Thank you, Linda.
DeleteWe have a winner! Linda Wilson has won our giveaway this week, and I will be in touch with her about sending her the prizes. Thank you to everyone who participated, and it's my prayer that we walk in freedom because of Who we belong to - the Lord Jesus Christ who breaks every chain and makes every soul that believes in Him whole. Thank you!
ReplyDelete