Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ Can Set You Free from Slavery to Sin


Freedom in Christ
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
–John 8:36 (NLT)

The story is told of a group of animals who were tied to a wheel for a long period of time. With the wheel in the center, they slowly walked around in a circle, following each other, looking down at the ground.

One day, the animals were untied from the wheel. Each had the ability to walk away or even run if they wanted to; but each one just stood in place. After a while, they started walking in a circle and continued to follow each other, slowly walking around and around in a circle.

They were free, but for some reason, they did not realize it. Maybe they were so accustomed to living in bondage that they just continued to act like they were still tied to that wheel.

When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, He frees us from the bondage of sin. But even when we accept Christ as our Savior, we often put up a wall in our hearts. We strive to love Him with every fiber of our being, but sometimes there is failure to give Him all of us. There’s this notion that if we just maintain this last bit of space, we protect ourselves, and we’re free to be who we would just rather be. But true freedom is experienced when we give up, give in, and give ourselves over completely.

Many of us are in bondage, and we don’t even know it. We are slaves to the sin that entangles us. The worst part of slavery is to be a slave, and not even know that you are a slave. You’re not even seeking freedom because you think you are already free when you really are not.

How do we remedy this? Submit to God’s will and to His ways. God’s law is perfect, converting the soul. The law is not here to restrict you, it’s designed to set you free. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Stop resisting the Spirit and experience the freedom of God’s glory.

Seek His presence in your life. The Bible says in Psalm 16:11 (NKJV), “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Dwell in His presence. Let’s also read Psalm 27:4 (KJV). Scripture says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” Enjoy His presence. Remember: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10 NIV).

God is ready and waiting to free us from the bondage of sin, but we have to take the first step so that we can experience freedom in Him.

Let’s Pray:
Dear God, We need the power of your Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts so that we may be free from sin. Help us to let go of anything that keeps us away from You and hold on to whatever brings us closer to You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Just for Me” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 


She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a guest blog writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “Devotionals for the Heart” blog series. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in Living Unbroken, which is also a publication produced by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Angela is also a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She helps them see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

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