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(My Dearest Siestas, I have hopped back on this entry after 411 comments to tell you that it is everything I can do to stay in my chair today. I have never wanted to do a day-long thank You dance to Jesus so much in all my life. I wish I had 2000+ Siestas to do it with: Those who have broken free and those who, by the promises of God’s Word and the testimonies of hundreds of lives, KNOW THEY CAN!! I can practically feel the blood pumping through my veins. THESE COMMENTS ARE MUST-READS!)
OK, Siestas, I’m about to invite you to share in Part Two of our inquisition for Breaking Free. First, a recap: In the last post I asked you for insight regarding the areas of bondage that most threaten you. All the comments moved us and some were nearly excruciating to read, especially considering how we’ve come to care for one another. I think we have an all-new perspective on the kind of suffering and (often secret) captivity that exists out there…and among many people who really want to do this life-thing right. (And CAN, praise God, with the power of His Spirit. We’ll talk more about that in future posts.)
Some of us may have nearly despaired and wondered, “Is anybody really living in victory out there? Is anyone really free?” The answer to that question is YES. But no one got there easily OR accidentally. We can be threatened by an area of bondage for years without ever being defeated by it then one day, to the great glory of God, we realize it doesn’t tempt us anymore. Without question, nobody’s got it completely together and those who think they do are on the brink of dropping it. But, whatever you do, don’t get cynical and give up the fight. Plenty of believers are living in titanic daily victory over old areas of bondage and have sustained it in the power of Christ for years. In Breaking Free, living victoriously is not living sinlessly. It’s living successfully. It’s the fleshed-out reality of an effective, abundant Spirit-empowered life. Now, it’s time to hear some testimonies of victory. I only have one question for you this time and, again, all answers need to be ANONYMOUS. No others can be posted on this entry. Please make your answers somewhere in length between one sentence and a brief paragraph so that we can read every single one of them.
Question: From what area of past bondage has Christ set you free? Be specific so that our sisters can see that nothing is beyond His reach. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
I love you so.
porn both me and hubby were set free from porn. God put it in my heart first and when I would say NO, let’s not watch this, etc I experience firsthand the pain of what any addiction (as small!! to him) as it may seem, eventually he too turned from it, now since he must watch this, we make our own videos!! TMI?? Edit if needed 🙂
Anorexia had me in bondage for several years in my late teens on in to my college years. God released me from that and I’ve learned to love eating healthy and love my newly restored body and body image. W/o this new freedom, I don’t know if my three precious children would have been possible. And the weight gain in those pregnancies was a blessed event! Food does not have to control us and neither does body image!
The Breaking Free study and following it up with Living Free gave me knowledge to recognize my strongholds and the potential areas of my life that could become future strongholds. For me, It took way more time than the duration of the studies to completely identify and break the multiple strongholds I had. I am now free of the strongholds of prejudice, overeating, anger, insecurity, fear, and suicidal depression. Whether I am a success from your point of view, I don’t know. Because I have to constantly be alert in these areas of my life since they are still somewhat “comfortable” and tempting. I find that as I’m entering a new season of my life with middle age and empty nest” issues it is difficult to fill the empty places fast enough. I am; however, resolved to fill up only with God.
Thanks Beth and LPL. Maybe one day in heaven, I’ll have the right words to fully express what you have done for me by speaking God’s Words in way the reaches me.
I was unable to post on the last blog as well, so I would like to leave all of mine now. An area of bondage I struggle with is that of fear, which leads directly to the need to control, everything, my husband, my kids, my finances, my house, everything. I always knew I was controlling, but it wasn’t until the last year that I finally connected the dots. God showed me that my obssessive need to control was driven by my fears, and that He alone can free me. His Word has been so transformational in my life, when I utilize it. I also struggle with the love of romance, which doesn’t sound that bad, unless that desire for romance leads to impure thoughts and anger and bitterness.
But GOD! has freed me from so much, including watching TV way too much!! I am discovering that His love story to me is all the romance I could ever need, and that my husband’s way of showing his love may not be my way, but it is very romantic.
“Turn your eyes to Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Amen and Amen!!!
The bondage of SELF! In particular Selfishness, Self deceiving thoughts, Self-abuse, Self Preservation, low Self-esteem, Self critical, Self-Inhibited, SELF, SELF, SELF BUT through the power of the Holy Ghost by Walking in the Spirit, I can now say that I have the VICTORY THROUGH SELF-SURRENDER! I had to DIE to self, so that HE may live! I encourage the readers deny self, take up the cross daily, and pursue God!
It seems kind of silly, but…..fear of flying.
Although I was never a ‘white knuckle” flyer, every trip we would take, I’d have some anxiety about it. I’d pray about it as we were taking off and landing – my two biggest fears. Then one day, we were taking off and I was praying for a safe trip, and God informed me that I did not have to be afraid to fly, he was there and we were safe. I could almost feel his hands around our plane.
Like I said, it seems like kind of a silly and superficial thing to be set free from, but right after He told me not to be afraid, we began a long, emotional journey back and forth across the country to my very ill father in law.
Without His reassurance, those many trips would have had too much time focused on fear and too little time focused on my dear father in law.
I have been set free from smoking!!!
Depression – Had lost 2 members of my family, had two children and moved. We were within walking distance of a church – we started attending and I went to my first Bible Study (one of yours) and the healing process began!
He set me free from feeling the need to have a man. He set me free from turning myself inside out and putting myself in terrible situations and in the process destroying my self esteem just to be “loved” by a man. I thank Him everyday for showing me that I don’t need anyone but Him and His precious pure love for me. One day I might meet someone but until then I am fine with my Lord and Savior and I don’t want a relationship unless He is the center of that relationship. It took 25 years to get to this point, I am now 46 years old and I am so blessed.
Beth,
I hid for years (about 12) the fact that I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. They occur mostly when I’m driving. So, I would manipulate situations where I could ride with someone else … OR I would just cancel at the last minute so I didn’t have to go. Even my husband, whom I love dearly, didn’t really know … b/c I didn’t want to disappoint him and he didn’t want to upset me by bringing it up.
My thoughts were, “Well, I’m a CHRISTIAN. If I admit to this, what will that say of my faith? I can work through this b/w God and me.” Beth, I was so ashamed. I felt weak. I thought, I can read this book, I can do this bible study, etc. Surely, God will free me from this someday.
Anyway, this past Fall, everything just fell down around me (or, if felt like it was). I finally spilled my guts to everyone. My husband, my dear friend, my Mom. I started seeing a Christian counselor … and she was the one who told me that seeking professional help didn’t make me less of a Christian.
God wants us to rely on others! That’s why we’re not all alone. I’m not fully free from the bondage, but I’m working on it. With God’s help, with my family’s support, with friends … I’m on my way. And, I’m so much more FREE from this than I’ve ever been! I now see it as a blessing … and not chains that bind me.
THANK YOU, JESUS!!!
There has been more than one area of bondage in my life, but I have been freed by God in the realization that He does not need my help. God, the I AM, is completely able to do whatever. Freedom is also in knowing that I am accepted in the Beloved. Eph 1:6
Acceptance is not based on performance – the way I felt many years. Praise God.
Well, this has been a real awakening for me. Got my husband and I talking about bondage and obstacles and found out he wishes I wouldn’t work – just stay home and be a wife and mom. Now that opened a whole new can of worms for me.
I have been able to break free from fear of what if. I had brain surgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia and I was able to be fear free before the surgery. I just KNEW God was going to guide me thru whatever was ahead. It was great! I had tons of prayer warriors out there and I just felt peace.
I no longer worry about tomorrow. I truly feel God will give me what I need and teach me what he needs me to know – all in the safety of His loving arms. Meanwhile I am preparing my life for the tomorrow’s the way I feel God is leading me.
Now I’m onto dealing with my bondage and obstacle issues that I didn’t get to post originally. It is comforting to have a list of workable hurdles.
Also, Thanks for posting this line of questioning and helping me realize an area of contention in my marriage that I didn’t know I had. It has been a blessing.
God Bless You All!
Eating Disorder. Mainly bulimia. Never thought I’d EVER get over that! Praise God!
Also, I am free now to accept and feel God’s love for me. I would wake up in the mornings and I”d have 3 strikes against me before I even got out of bed. I felt God hated me and was angry at me just for being alive! I no longer feel that way, and I am glad to know that I can experience God’s love THIS side of Heaven.
Thoughts from the Nightstand: After a night and morning lying in bed and thinking this over, I thought of a couple things. Another stronghold God is breaking me free from right this second: the “too manies”. The tendency to fill the gap in my soul at times by accumulating too many things. too much stuff….”affluenza”…a sad and cluttering disease.
the other thought was the words to a song kept playing in my mind:
“And the walls came tumbling down.” As God is breaking us out of all these strongholds. And as I thought of where that line came from, the song about the battle of Jericho. I had an ah ha! That story is about more than God giving the promise land, and Victory to the Isrealites, and obeying God, and His ways being different than ours, and even the faith of Rahab.
It is also about Rahab being set free from a stronghold. Her lifestyle and her captivity in it would have gone on if Jerichos walls had not come down. But in the process of God accomplishing his purposes for Joshua and His people. He also broke Rahab’s stronghold and gave her bew life, a new faith and a prominent place in the lineage of Christ. If that is not a stronghold breaking, I don’t know what is!
Yea, God. And the walls come tumbling down, for ALL of us!
An unhealthy attraction to certain kinds of women. A need outside my control for this kind of relationship. I used to wonder if I was a lesbian, though I didn’t want to think I was, and indeed I wasn’t. So confusing!! I’m free, thank God alone!
Wanting someone, something to make me feel “good enough”, to tell me I am valued. This need led to an affair, a divorce and another marriage. Always looking for someone to fill my cup.
Only Jesus can fill the void only He is suffcient and in Him alone do I find my value.
God has set me free from suicidal depression, anger with my mother over childhood wrongs, and a judgemental spirit toward my husband.
Control, fear, and working on pride:)And remembering that He came to set all free who are oppressed by the devil Acts 10:38!
I’m only sleeping with my husband. One year into our marriage I began an affair with his best friend from jr. high school. I shocked myself as I did many things I was always against. First, cheating, pregnancy, abortion…Lord have mercy. All of this my husband knows as we have worked through all of this ugliness. I wasn’t looking to have an affair, but when he put it out there, I grabbed the bait. Horrible way of life.
I fought my way through Breaking Free in ’07 & am living a victorious life right now, but the temptation for history to repeat is strong. You’d be proud Beth~I have my red index card holder in my purse with cards filled with the Words of my Saviour. 🙂 If it weren’t for daily seeking Him & gaining a true passion for His Word, Lord knows where I’d be. Don’t even want to think about it.
I love you Mama Beth & girls. xoxo
Me
In this week’s homework with Breaking Free, I’ve realized that I have over come the idolatry of others!! The last time I did this study it was a huge stronghold. Men no longer come before my Lord! Praise God!
I was married at 19, while in college, and had two beautiful children but was divorced at 23. I have been married to my second husband for 17 years. He is a senior pastor and was a youth pastor when we married. It has taken me years to forgive myself but Christ has set me free!!
I have been set free from guilt and shame over an abortion I had after college after being raped. I have been set free from alcohol, winning approval of others, , perfectionism, the sense of entitlement over my spouse and as a mother of three little ones, fear (stems from past verbal, emotional and physical abuse, growing up), a critical tongue, and through all of this garbage God has really made BEAUTY FROM ASHES – I am stip a work in progress and desparate for our Saviour – but I have OVERCOME IN JESUS NAME! Anyone can – thats the beauty of it all. Breaking free was the first bible study I had ever done 10 years ago….so you can see it has taken time, but God is a healer! He redeems! And he takes the worthless and makes them worthy.
I am free from trying to be worthy of being loved by God. As with any good father, my Father disciplined me and I learned through his loving discipline that I am not illegitimate. God touched me and I limped but I was changed and for that I am so very grateful. The greatest gift God gave me through it all was compassion. It is worth it no matter how hard the “breaking” is!!
He is setting me free of hanging on to bitter lies of the past … the addictions and the anger of being abused and mistreated… It is by the Grace of God that I stay one step ahead of it everyday.
I am so Glad Beth you are here to help us understand his works and words.
Panic attacks. God set me free from panic attacks. I realized that I was letting the devil into my mind by things I was reading and what I was watching on tv. Something as simple as CSI or Law and Order can cause panic attacks in the middle of the night where I will start screaming, jump out of bed, and run like there is no tomorrow. Thankfully, my husband recognized the panic attacks for what they were shortly after we were married. He prayed the Armor of God over me every night until God set me free. And by the way, sometimes freedom means that we can’t do what we want to do, i.e., watch the latest and greatest tv shows… Thank you God that I can be free in You!
Thank you all so much for writing in. I am in the process of break free and walking with Jesus. I am so glad this post is here so I can come back to it as needed.
Been free from years of substance abuse, sexual sin, & a filthy mouth… and then I arrived home after church yesterday and realized I had lied TWICE… at CHURCH! What on earth!
Yes, I am free and yet not without sin. Time to confess (make a phone call) and repent! Don’t want to any strongholds to build up in my mind or heart, blocking me from Christ’s love, forgiveness or Truth-Life… been in that “pit” and don’t even want to go near it… for ANY REASON!
Praise God for saving my marriage! I survived adultry and escaped divorce by the skin of my teeth. (It started with me not tending to “my ministry”) It took seven long, painful years of breaking free from the battles in my mind. God rewarded us in not only saving our marriage but blessing us with a long awaited beautiful baby boy. His way is not easy, but it is WELL worth it! Amen and Halleluia!
There are several that come to mind…
The hate and unforgiveness that I had for many years for my alcholic father. I now love him unconditionally and long to show him that love at every chance I get.
Worry ! God has freed me from the sin of worry. There are plenty of things in my life that I “should” be worried about (huge financial problems) but praise God worry does not plague me anymore.
Also, God refilled my heart with love for my husband after a season long ago in which I was sure that we needed to divorce because there was no love in our marriage. Praise God!!
I am free of my sin of adultery because God has forgiven me. Do I have to still live in its effects? Yes. I married my sin and God has turned it into a blessing beyound what we could ever imagine or deserve. Never would I recommend such a sin because we are a rareity. God has taken me, like the women at the well, and is allowing other to see His power and grace. If He can transform my husband and I into vessels He could use, how much more can He do for you?!?!?
It has been through Bible studies such as ‘Breaking Free’ and ‘Getting out of the Pit’ by Beth Moore and other studies such as ‘Your Scars are Beautiful to God’ by Sharon Jaynes and ‘What Happens When Women Say Yes to God’ by Lysa Terkerst…just to name a few, that have helped me to find an intimacy with Christ that has lead to healing. It had lead to a disciplined life of daily Bible study, praying scripture, & writing in my prayer journals. It has been the discipline of praying and walking continuously looking to Him when I fail (which I do daily I’m afraid) and praising Him when I am blessed despite my failures. It is in Him that I have been made anew, made whole. Though others may never forgive me, I can live in God’s forgiveness and I choose that-to follow His calling for my life, forgetting the former things and pressing on for His work in and through me.
He has pulled me from the pit of overwhelming fear. I sometimes stand to close to the pit, and sometimes my feet were dangling over the edge, but praise Jesus I have never moved back in. It’s been the best 18 months of my life.
Jesus has set me free from the bondage of abuse, from my childhood, and rape at the age of 16. He has taken away the hurt, the shame and the anger and enabled me to forgive. This used to be a continual, aching hole in my soul, but God filled it up with His love and His measure of my worth. If He was willing to give his Son for me, what more worth do I need?
Free from the guilt and shame of pre-marital sex. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Christ has set me free of suicidal tendancies. Wanting to act out in destructive ways instead of constructive ways. Once in a while I have thoughts of suicide but I no longer act on those thoughts. I pray on a daily basis for God to interrupt any thoughts not glorifying to Him or beneficial to me and when the thought is recognized then I can actively change it.
When I was in my 20s my greatest fear was that I wouldn’t find a husband. I wanted it so desperately and at 26 I’d never even had a boyfriend! I was convinced that wasn’t what God wanted for me and I was very frustrated and angry, all the while serving in the church, leading worship and full of doubts. But in his infinite wisdom He did have someone for me. I was 27 when we met. We joke that it never would’ve worked if we’d met even 1 month sooner. So God’s timing is truly perfect. He gave me exactly what I wanted but not at all what I’d asked for. My husband is not at all who I would have picked, so I’m glad I let God do the picking!
More recently, I was feeling very burdened by so much activity at the church. Then with a new ministry leader, new things were put in place and I wasn’t invited to take part. I thought God didn’t want me serving anymore and although it was a lot of commitment, I really felt it was in my gift area. I felt very abandoned and offended by that, seruisly doubting that God wanted me to serve at all. But God’s wisdom is perfect. It was a 2 1/2 year “break” from church. Not a break from belief, but a break from regular church attendance and congregational involvement. I thought God was dissatisfied with me. Looking back, I saw He was giving me a fallow period, during which time I had my children and was able to put some emotional distance between myself and the church of my childhood. He called us to a new congregation much cloer to our home and very soon His call back into worship leading and service was very apparent. He wanted me to have time to be a mommy, and time to make room in my heart for a new church to serve. A church where I’ve learned so much about the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in my life! I’ve learned to trust Him so much more because He’s never let me down, even though at times it felt like it.
The first time I went through Breaking Free, I expected to be dealing with food issues. But was shocked when the Lord dealt with my mothering. My response was, “But Lord being a good mother was the most important thing to me.” And He said, “Exactly.” We dealt with it that day.
The Lord has radically set me free from the guilt and shame of abortion. I spent 10 years suffering in silence and self-destructive behavior. As in Pslam 107, once I cried out to Him, he sent His Word and healed me. I praise this God who not only forgives, He chooses to remember our sin no more!
On behalf of all our siestas, let’s confront that lowdown, lying, sneaking enemy:
“In the mighty name of Jesus who’s gonna blow you away with one puff of breath: BACK OFF! We are REDEEMED and LOVED and our Spirit is one of POWER and LOVE and a SOUND MIND!”
Free from believing what someone else says about me to believing what God says through His word about me! I cannot tell you how many times I have recited in my mind (sometimes as the lies were being spoken verbally by a person)
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Breaking Free was the beginning and Believing God introduced the steps to take to follow through with believing Him at His word! I can remember you saying that your mom said to you, “I wish you were still funny.” Well, Beth, you may have times that you have to be serious with us, but you are still downright hilarious to us!!
I was busy Sunday after my youngest son was on his way with college friends (to see a friend who had his knee removed due to cancer) and were in an accident due to hydroplaning on the freeway. Everyone is fine praise GOD.
Jesus has set me free from
Fear, control, loneliness, comparisons, and many other daily battles that we all go through at one point or another. LET GO AND LET GOD!
Sexual Self-Satisfaction! Struggled with it since 8 years old freed at 21!!! It’s been 4 years and it feels great!
Praise God he has delivered me from unforgiveness that led to bitterness. I don’t ever want to go back to those shackles again! I’m dancing free here!
Guilt and Shame—The kind of guilt that I never felt good enough even though I was a child of God. This guilt was due to premarital sex and then ending up pregnant the end of my freshman year of college. This was with a man I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but I didn’t let God make that decision for me. I never dated through highschool, seriously, and was always looked upon as a “good girl”. My husband still to this day (we are still happily married almost 16 years now!!) says that was what attracted him to me. For years I cried many nights for feeling like I let so many people down including myself. God showed me through scripture, prayer and a Bible study by Blackaby(the name of it has slipped me!) what grace–HIS GRACE is about. It has nothing to do with what others think, but what my Heavenly Father thinks. I WILL NEVER FORGET one assignment in the study was to take a walk and spend it with God. I have never felt such love and comfort and assurance as I did during that walk. God is so able to wipe away any shame and guilt and replace it with His never ending love.
I praise my savior to the high heavens for freedom from not knowing how to live and love those in my life with unhealthy lifestyles/godlessness without being swept up into their messes. Praise the Lord…he has revealed that true love MUST include healthy boundaries and that all change must be HIS doing…I am his servant in ministry, but He rules over all! Praise Him again and again for me not having to “fix” it all!
I have been set free from so much bondage that these pages could not contain it all..First, demonic torture. Attacking my mind, my dreams, my thoughts. Now I speak the name of Jesus, to whom I belong, and let them know He has given me total authority over them.
Second. Poor self-image and worth..Praise His name..I have been set free..Seeing my self through the loving eyes of my Father..Walking in the truth and not the lies of the evil one…I praise God for Breaking Free, and the desire it has given me to RING THE FREEDOM BELLS right along with you sweet Beth to all who are in held captive..Love you Dearly
Worry! Worry! and Worry!
I used to worry all the time about the future and what would happen. Not anymore. I may not know the future, but I know the One who does; and if He is for me, who can stand against me?
By the way, I was at a retreat this weekend and couldn’t respond to part one of this blog, but I wanted to thank you for your words for those of us who are single. I live a happy and rich life and I thank God for the freedom I have to involve myself in numerous events because of it!
Worry.
When I did BF, it was so apparent that it was passed on to me through the generations of my family. I won’t say I don’t worry about things that come up unexpectedly or serious things from time to time, but the worry of “what if” has been lifted from me. Praise Him!
God has set me free from the effects of being molested by my father. If He can do that, He can do anything! I even have a relatively healthy relationship with my dad.
I am learning to become free to belive that God made me just the way he wanted. Free to become “myself”, not looking around me to see what I should be like. I am also becoming free from bitterness, from hanging onto the yucky things that happen in life. Within the last six months God saved my marriage from ending, and I am so thankful for that.
FEARS…I PRAISE HIM! I have always been trapped by fear and anxiety…THANK GOODNESS, PRAISE HIM! I have someone who cares to hear about them no matter how silly! He has delivered me of SO MANY already! I am no longer in bondage to them b/c I know where to take them! I am so much freer than I ever imagined! It may always be my thorn… but we just keep hacking away at them as they come! Where would I be if I didn’t have this HOPE in HIM… Thank you Jesus for rescuing me! THANK YOU!!!! : )