*Comments now closed*
(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.
God is helping me to become Free from FEAR: fear of failing, fear of not being good enough, fear of not just being me.
He has given me freedom from the guilt of past sexual sin. I used to be caught in a cycle because of feelings of guilt and thinking I wasn’t worthy of anything any better. He has forgiven me and those past sins are as far as the east is from the west and I can live without being weighed down with that guilt and that big scarlet letter that I thought I had to wear.
I have lived with anxiety and fear of death since I can remember. On June 8, 2001 I went to Memphis to hear Beth speak (from KY all alone). I was 4 months postpartum and had had horrible ppd before. Beth found me and knew my fear before I told her. She gave me scripture,prayed with me and told me to be purposeful in defeating the enemy on this. I was terrified in my hotel rm alone the next morning when I fell to my knees and died to fear and rose to resurrection of freedom!!!! I still have to be purposeful. If I wonder far from my Savior that lion comes to devour me but walking with my precious redeemer brings me freedom to travel and love my four children and love the life and ministry that I have been blessed with. When I returned my husband, BFF, and children knew something was different before I could tell them!! My bondage had driven me to be afraid to leave my bedroom and now His freedom allows me to serve others!! I cannot believe how great is His faithfulness. No one on this planet has shown me that degree of forgiveness and affection. I just praise him for His mercy. I praise Him for His word and for those who aren’t ashamed to tell their personal bondage so more of us can walk in freedom rather than fear. Keep on talkin’ girlfriend.
He has freed me from feeling like I need to satisfy or “take care” of myself when my husband has either neglected to or been unable to do so.
I am learning to be satisfied with Him alone. Praise and glory to His name. Thank you Jesus!
The Lord is working on breaking me free from hating myself. For years I lived in bondage of self loathing. However, He’s breaking those chains off!
The Lord has set me free from letting my emotions rule over me!! Just because I feel a certain way doesn’t mean I have to act on it, I can take my thoughts captive to Christ and slowly my feelings will change!! Even if they don’t I just leave it with God. What better hands to be in?!
The Lord has set me free from a very unhealthy relationship that I had with an older woman several years ago. He gave me the courage to tell my husband. I have since cut ties completely with her. Beth, the Lord used your study The Patriarchs to give me the courage to do that. You wrote about Jacob cutting ties with Laban and how when you’ve had an unhealthy relationship, it does not need to be restored. The cross of Jesus stands between us. That was two years ago.
Now, I minister to other women in Celebrate Recovery. It’s amazing to use the yuck in your life and see how it ministers to others. I’m sure you know, you do it every day. He has taken my sin and turned it for good!
Isaiah 43:8-9 states:
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
I can never make my past go away. However, I can move on and use my past to do a new thing. It’s worth the hard work!
I have been set free from the horrible feelings of jealousy. I couldn’t be happy for anyone at times and would say horrible things to make people as miserable as I was. Not anymore! Thanks be to God, I can rejoice with others and be happy for them and with them. God has given me a much happier way to live life! Thank You, Jesus!
It is so wonderful to see all the comments that have been posted. Quite honestly, I wish I could post in just the same way. But I can’t, so I’m writing to say thank you to all of you who shared your experiences of freedom. I’m not out of the captivity of bondage… I long for freedom but can’t seem to find it. Some days I feel completely overwhelmed with all the things in my life, and it seems like it only worsens with time. I feel like there is too much bondage to ever find my way out. Thank you for giving me just a flicker of hope- that no matter how much bondage there is and how tight it holds, I too can someday be free.
God has set me free from thinking I was less than, and that his love far exceeded anything I would ever encounter in my life.
I am free from having to do things myself. Free to let God handle my life. Free to truly turn my life over to Him no matter what it may be. And to celebrate what direction He takes me even if it is difficult and out of my comfort zone. FOR I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. Phillippians 4:13
I think this was a great idea to let everyone see how God DOES deliver us! Praise HIS holy name!!!
I also have been delivered from several areas of bondage: overeating, bitterness, controlling nature, several different kinds of fear.
Believe me when I say, ladies, that we’re never going to leave the battleground until the day God calls us home. But we have the ONE who has already won the battle, and He’s fighting on our side, so we can rest in His arms knowing He wants victory for us. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us how to fight our enemy. It takes a deliberate act. We can’t sit back and expect it to happen without any effort. It’s VERY hard at times!!! I know, I fight it EVERY day… I don’t have a “handle” on it. I’ll be fighting ’till the day I die! Satan wants an advantage and he knows he has one with our weaknesses. Just keep fighting and never give up!!! None of us are in it alone, we have each other and we have GOD!
Thank you, Beth, for your wonderful teachings that have been such a blessing to all of us and encourage us to keep going!!!
10:01 am 1/28/08; your posting is my husband and I to a T! And I rejoice with you as to how God turns something evil into GOOD when we allow HIM TO HAVE ALL OF US! We both became Christians after our affair and the beginning of our marriage; we’ve been walking with Christ since 1999.
Halleljuah!
I’m 48 (single)and God graciously freed my heart from anger, the inability to trust, unbelief, feeling invisible and unworthy and all the baggage from being sexually molested when I was young. It happened when the Lord arranged a meeting with a missionary on furlough at a church I don’t attend who prayed me through it all. It happened only when my heart’s cry was desperate for nothing but Jesus. I have also reconciled with the cousin who molested me. God is so faithful!
sexual sin–as an 18 year old I prayed for God to take it away and not let me relive what I had done or the guilt that went with it (the enemy’s work)–right before i met my husband (His timing is perfect) and it WAS gone–i was able to start the relationship out in a healthy way 14 years ago–and we’re still happily married.
Masturbation. I had kept it hidden from my husband for years. And you know how God freed me of it?
He convicted my husband of the same sin in his own life and gave him the courage to come to me asking for forgiveness!!!!!!!!
We have both been free now for several years and now we satisfy each others’s sexual desires.
Let me tell you: it’s SUCH a better way!
Praise God! What a merciful, merciful God!
He has set me free from the habitual use of wine to medicate physical and emotional aches. He is my great physician and healer!
To the single woman breaking free from the need for a husband and family….40 and no children. I just wanted to also mention, that sometimes God leads us in other ways to build families. I am single, had two kids in my marriage. Now, still single and 50, I have adopted a daughter from China two years ago and am now adopting a daughter from Ethiopia. There are a lot of us single Christian women adopting children and building a family. Yes, it would be awesome to have godly daddies, and it would be awesome that all the orphan children have families with a godly mom and dad…but there are far more orphan children than their are willing families….
So sometimes God leads some of us to build a family, a different way, and care for these precious ones. Just a thought.
I know when I first started my adoption last time, my pastor’s wife said “They let you do that?” Meaning a single woman adopt a child. …YES GOD DOES. 🙂 And what a blessing, what a full life.
I have been set free from chronic lying. I have been set free from craving affection/love inappropriately. Both of which came from deep rooted insecurities. I am secure in Him! Praise Jesus!
I am free from living in fear all of my life. I have lived in fear for over 50 years and no more. Praise God!!! I am set free. It was through the breaking free study that led me to freedom in Christ. DON’T GIVE UP!!!!
HE IS FAITHFUL!!!
Jesus freed me from sexual self gratification. He is so very good.
Rejection! Three years ago my husband of 30 years thought the grass was greener on the other side and traded this 50 something model for a 20 something model. Our precious Lord and Savior has been by my side all the way and has delivered me from utter despair! I have come through the fire secure in knowing I am a daughter of the King and He will never reject me! The emotions of rejection, bitterness, shame, blame and unforgiveness are no longer holding me in bondage!! Through this process I have also been set free from guilt and shame resulting from immoral teen years and an abortion. God has allowed the Beth Moore Bible Studies into my life to step by step lead me to this new freedom in Christ! Breakng Free was instrumental! I love you Beth and I love all the bloggers! So wish I could talk personally to each and every one!!!
To those who are still held captive, please seek Jesus with all your heart, He will free you. He did me. He sent godly women to encourage me, a Christian counselor to guide and counsel me through all the emotions and most of all, Himself!
Freedom from feeling that everything negative or bad in my life was God punishing me for not be good enough to be worthy of His love. I know that I can never be worthy, no one can, but He loves us anyway.
I have been set free from constant worry. I used to worry about EVERYTHING. But I mostly worried about something happening to my son or to me. Now I realize that even if I lost my son, it would somehow work for the good of the Lord (this is hard for me to say, but I really believe it). And if something happens to me, praise God, I’ll be promoted to glory!
The fear of never being enough for God. I know that I just need to be for Him to love me and nothing more. My actions or lack thereof do not negate or prempt His love. It remains constant for I am the apple of His eye and His heart’s delight.
My Husband and I are walking testimonies of God’s grace. He had been a hard core heroin user for over fifteen years, I had been in and out of rehad many times myself, and was living the life that accompanies drug addiction.
I ended up pregnant, and decided to abort the baby. I was in the office and they were ready to give me medication, and I asked for a minute alone. During that minutes, I prayed that God would protect me, I knew the risks and I knew I wanted to be a Mother (eventually) The only way I could describe it, was to say that I felt Him turn His face from me (this was before I knew of the scripture in Isaiah) I ran out of there without knowing how things would work out.
Well, we got married, turned our lives over to Christ, and we had that darling baby boy, and we had five more to make six boys!
We still have our struggles, but God has been so faithful! We have been married for 18 years!
*PRAISE HIM!* Beth, my Redeemer is fully God. He has brought the greatest Eph 3:20 Exceedingly! I have gone from unbelief with my marriage to believing God.
Bless you LPM for this time of proclaiming HE is the Great I AM!
I know it!
I believe it
Fear of what happens when a mother’s worst nightmare comes true and you lose your child, you feel branded and held by God at the same time. it is what the enemy uses to try and keep me down, but though weeping may last through the night, my joy comes in the morning when i can say another day closer and another one behind me.
He has set me free from the opinion of others. Not having to worry all the time about how what I’ve said was taken, worrying what people will think if I do or don’t agree to do something. . . .The Freedom to trust Him to take care of the details. So . . .free from worry! OH I LOVE HIM SO!
He has helped me overcome my need for approval from other people. If He is asking for obedience in an area requiring sacrifice, I am more apt now to follow in obedience even if it does not make everyone around me happy. I would rather displease them, than displease Him because He is everything to me now!
Living transparent! After years of trying to measure up to the world’s (and the church’s and my own) standards — I realized that
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM — and that’s that! I am the blessed child of God and He is my savior and redeemer. I choose to live in the Joy of this salvation. Siestas — don’t try to be who you aren’t. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God created each of us different and what a blessing we are all! Live the life God intended for us — live a Joy Filled Life in victory.
Thanks so much Beth! This is a wonderful and uplifting blog post (and the comments just rock!)
Free from guilt over sin (“When Godly People do Ungodly Things”) and finally believing I’m forgiven. Now on to my other areas in which I need freedom! (There’s always going to be something, isn’t there?)
I’m not yet free of the bondage from my childhood, but through 1) His awesome promises and gracious, tender presence in my life right now, and 2) the encouragement from 411 TESTIMONIES of my Siesta sisters, I KNOW I can be free! Thank you, dear ones.
smoking!
Beth,
We love you so!
Thanks for being the Siestas’
#1 Cheerleader.
22-25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message)
God has set me free from suicidal thoughts stemming from clinical depression~going on seven years. God is my only true, everlasting hope. Praise Him!
God freed me from lying to my husband about our finances. I was kiting checks, taking out loans, running up credit card debt without telling him. Now I tithe faithfully. I am not rich, but I am ok financially.
He has set me free from anger and an abusive spirit toward my children and anyone else around when angry. He has taught me to wait on Him and he will provide the way and it will be a most excellent way. He is still setting me free from being a control freak. Each day is a new chance to let Him have it.
Through Breaking Free, the Lord really set me free to share my brokenness with others. My pride had kept me quietly suffering in pain and loneliness, terrified what others would think of me if they knew the sin I had been entangled in. My repentance had already come, but healing did not truly take place until I wept before my friends and admitted my sexual sin. Several others shared that night and God really used that night to bring us out of darkness with riches we could never have imagined. The visual of the Israelites leaving Egypt decked out with jewels really sank in and I have committed to vulnerability ever since. It is such a blessing to celebrate with sisters.
He has set me free from past sexual sin. He has cleansed me and made me whole and free of the grip that the sinful nature had over me. He has also helped me to forgive myself and to cancel the thoughts and memories that plagued me. And it is only by His grace that I can face each day. I have been cleansed by the blood of the lamb – made righteous by His atonement and made sinless because of His death.
Fear, God has freed me from the fear of everyting, especially what others think of me. This is huge as I am married to an unbeliever who is very much is disagreement with many of my choices since I’ve surrendered to Christ. I hold dear Paul’s words in Gal 1:10. And I know that God purpose for me is for only good regarless of my trials. I just pray that through me my husband can see Christ and come to know Him and love Him like I do…and Mama Beth you have been my inspiration. Thank you so much for the blessing you’ve been and using the gifts God gave you!
Our dear Jesus has set me free from so many things, and has drawn me closer to Himself than I’d ever imagined possible. It’s all I can do to keep from crying, just thinking about it. I spent almost four months in bed, unable to stand up without fainting, from a heart condition that is now completely gone, thanks to His mercy and a wonderful doctor.
It was during that time that the Word started reading, to me, like a software manual – a factual description of the way the Creator’s universe works, no matter how I might feel about that. It started a hunger in me for the Word that Beth has fed, and now I’m probably (with Him) unstoppable.
In the process, I’ve been freed from guilt, from fear, I’ve seen relationships healed – it’s almost indescribable.
Our God is so, so good, and so perfectly merciful, to work in someone as broken and rebellious as I was.
Siestas, I think this is so interesting – even though some of us may have posted on the “bondage” issues, I have a feeling that many of use can also recognize areas where we are free – and understand in a deeper way that we are works in progress and we may have what is termed “major” stuff still to deal with! There are no “this is so small it does not matter” victories – they are all victories —- as I was reading these posts, I rejoiced over freedom from sexual sin, homosexuality, cutting, people pleasing, co-dependency, self loathing, past abuse, stealing, lying, soap operas, EVERYTHING. Bondage is bondage – period and FREEDOM IS FREEDOM!!!!!
Areas where I am already free kept coming to mind —- and yes, I had already posted here and did post an area of bondage on part one – as hard as that was! But God has shown more “free” areas as I have read all the comments . . . Praise Him – it is good to be reminded where we have come from and where we can go as we keep our eyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith! I needed BOTH posts.
Been praying for all of you (and yes myself and also Beth and Amanda as they have begun to absorb all of this) these last few weeks especially as this Siesta knitting together has escalated. My heart broke over the bondages and the enemy tried to say that my bondage is so nothing (it is not!) —- I need freedom where I am not free. I am so grateful to know I am not alone.
Onward siestas —- we have work to do and the Holy Spirit is leading the way —- does anyone see the light at the end of this tunnel of bondage? I do.
God has set me free from the shame and guilt of having an abortion. I knew He forgave me but I couldn’t forgive myself. God used Psalm 130 to help me break free. I inserted my name in the place of Israel and ‘her’ in place of ‘their’, try it for yourself. You’ll be amazed how it will speak to you!
If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed!
I was wrapped up in so much sin my Sr year of high school that left me prgnant and married before I was 19. It only continued with alcohol, adultery and divorce the next two years. I thought God couldn’t love a person like me, through women’s bible study He showed me that He not only loved me, but that He sent His Son to die for people like me. Almost 10 years later, I am happily married to a wondeful christan man and have two more children. I am also a Sunday school teacher and Ladies bible study leader. He has used my testimony more than I can count. What an awesome God we serve!
Dear Beth
I just finished reading 411 comments to this entry. What a brave woman you are to invite the last 2 blog entries. We are a pretty mangy, rag-tag bunch and that you could love us is incredible. That God could love us, seek us, and give his son for us is just beyond belief.
My sweet Savior has set me free from anger and bitterness toward my parents. There was no abuse in my childhood, but a whole lot of neglect. I carried around so much anger for years that threatened my physical and mental health. It took me years to realize that I was a captive, but in my early 30’s, God used Breaking Free to show me the truth of my prison and then he gloriously set me free!!
Where to start? These are some of the initial things God has set me free from: fear of abandonment, promiscuity, fantasy through pornography and books, anger, bitterness, shame, cigarettes, self condemnation…
Then I had to be set free from Pride. You know, the “why aren’t you getting set free too?” kind of pride.
Then from fear that the things I had done in my past would have consequences that would cause my kids to have to grow up with out their mom. Fear of my husband dying and me having to be a single mom. I could go on & on…
I think satan just keeps looking for something new to entrap me in… and if that doesn’t work then he simply looks for a weak spot and he tries to get me to slip back into old ways of thinking.
Thankfully Christ sets us free to be free indeed. I found that I simply can’t give up my quiet time. Personally, I have to keep renewing my mind by washing it in His Word daily. I’m just crazy in love with our GOD.
Anyone else just hug or kiss your bible? –Okay, I’m glad this is anonymous. LOL
God set me free from a four year affair with a married man when I was younger and single. It has taken me years to break free of it and now I can finally say, God saved me from myself. And he blessed me with the most incredible husband. Something I was convinced I’d never receive because of my past behavior. But God is good and He loves us. So, one shackle broken, MANY more to go! 🙂 But He is with me and is already starting on the next shackle. PTL!
Christ has set me free from an eating disorder. Praise the Lord that He is sufficient!! I am overwhelmed by His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness. He is the TRUTH and He is the ANSWER!!