Sunday Thoughts: On Freedom

 

Every Sunday I share with you an image, a scripture quote, my thoughts, and a prayer.  These are my thoughts, one post at a time.

 

The Picture:

 

 

I was looking through my pictures to find something that was going to make me smile.  An image that reflects my thoughts as well as my hope.

Last year, I took my family to the Cherry Blossom Festival, I know I mentioned this before, but it was so very exciting.  I took so many pictures of trees that were in bloom that I never had a moment to post all of them (or any of them) due to things that were going on.

I really like this picture because I love how flowers represents Spring, and new life and awakening.  I love how these flowers just open up to receive in all the light during this day, and at the same time showing off its beauty.

Spring has already started, but it doesn’t feel like Spring yet in my area.  It’s cold, raining, and it’s anything but Spring.  However, that does not stop my anticipation of looking forward to flowers blooming, and the trees opening up, and birds singing.

The awakening of a new season brings to mind an idea of freedom.  What was holding us down in the winter, will not hold us down in the Spring.  We change our clothes to lighter, brighter clothes, and we look forward to brighter and longer days.

The Quote:

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 ~Galatians 5:22-23

But what is freedom?

The word has so many definitions, but this is the one that catches my attention:

Freedom: the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity.

 

I am constantly on a journey to freedom.  Not from my duties that I do at home and for my family, but my spiritual freedom.

• To be content with what I see around me.
• Be happy with what I have instead of desiring more.
• Being kind and showing kindness.
• To respect not just myself, but every person who I come across, even if they cross me the wrong way (especially if they come across me the wrong way).
• Leaving my problems at the altar of the Lord.

None of these thing are easy.  They are simple concepts, but they are far from easy, and hard to meet.  However, looking at the quote from Galatians, who doesn’t want these things, all the times in our lives, especially when things are not going in our favor?  Especially if life has been especially difficult?

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How can we rise above our basic emotions?  How can we rise against the flesh, to become more spiritual?

The simple answers to these questions are: Through prayer and one day at a time.  That is freedom.

Sunday Prayer:

 

Dear Lord,

We know that you call for us to be free.  Free from our physical desires, and cravings of the flesh.  We understand Lord that with that freedom, comes responsibility.  Please help us seek the freedom above our physical desires, and seek more spiritual freedom.

Everything that we obtain in this world will pass when we stand before you.  No castle that we build will come with us, and all the riches will stay behind.

Let us be reminded that our goal is not  worldly possessions and acquiring things that we think we need, but our goal is grow our faith in Your love.

Amen.

 What do you do to become more spiritual in your daily lives? Do you pray? Read the Bible? Meditate?  Share with me the comments below!