DAY ONE - PHARAOHS AND FREEDOM
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Freedom: We are slaves. Who is my master?
In my daily reading today I was challenged to think about who my master is. We all let someone or something control our lives - the question is who or what is it? What are the "Pharaohs, the things, the people, the cravings" that own me? I don't think I can fully gain "freedom" from them, unless I understand what/who they are, and that I'm enslaved by them. Today, in our culture, there are many things that hold us back from living freely. Here are 3 that come to mind for me.
a) a desire for more "stuff"
b) striving for what the "world/others" deem as success
c) addiction
a) The desire for more stuff - is the belief that happiness will come from having more things. The problem is - that you will never be satisfied. Once you've "purchased or achieved" something you've desired, you begin to immediately look for the "next best thing" to fill that void of "wanting more". The old proverb that money can't buy happiness, is true. I think I have "bought in" to the worlds' lie that the more we have the happier we'll be. However, when I think back to the times that I have been most truly happy, it has not been when I got a new TV, or new clothes, or even when we bought a new car. The happiest times in my life have been when I've walked a journey with someone and seen them through to the other side, or when I saw my children for the first time, or when I've been able to serve someone in need. Having more stuff can never compare to these moments in life. Maybe if we struggle with desiring more, it's because we lack in these "rich" areas. So, today I ask myself, how can I be free from the "stuff" master and invest instead in more "rich" moments in my life?
b) Striving for what the world deems a success - We are constantly busy. Everyone says so. I think it's because we believe it's important. We are a society that gains identity by what we do. After we greet someone, the first thing we tend to ask is what they do. We place value on people by their status and occupation. What this tends to do is put a lot of pressure in our lives to succeed. We work hard hours, sometimes with little fruit. It can get exhausting, and in some cases can cause us to have a cynical attitude towards life, and may eventually result in burn out and/or anxiety. I don't believe there is anything wrong with working hard, or even succeeding. The problem for me comes when we place value on "doing stuff" to the point that it envelops every part of our life and depletes us of everything we have. I don't believe that we were created to work ourselves silly. I believe life is meant to be enjoyed not merely survived. I'm not sure anyone is actually impressed when I explain to them how busy I am - yet I find the urge to do so, in an effort to make myself feel important and to prove that my life isn't a waste of time. I guess next time I'm seeking value and purpose, instead of listing off an impressive list of things I've accomplished, I can remember my value doesn't lie in what others think of me but in who I am, and how I carry myself in relation to others.
c) Addiction - is a terrible master. Often in it, you know you are a slave to it. Whether your addiction is alcohol, drugs, smoking, pornography, chocolate, shopping, over-eating, watching TV, or hoarding, you tend to know it's unhealthy, and you try to free yourself from it again and again. Often you are ashamed about it, so it's hard to ask for help. But the problem is most addictions can't be overcome on your own. I have found that freedom from addiction is an expensive one. Not only is it frustrating resulting in tears and pain, it also requires hard work, discipline and stamina to stick to it. It requires humility to ask for help, and support and accountability from others, and who wants to do that? Unfortunately there are no quick fixes for freedom from addiction. Change often "has to" come when you've hit "rock bottom". But freedom is possible! First I try remember the value of rooting out the addiction, secondly I look at how to break the cycle in a way that will be long lasting (usually involving others), and thirdly I find a new alternative to take the place of the addiction. Freedom is possible!
Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Freedom: We are slaves. Who is my master?
In my daily reading today I was challenged to think about who my master is. We all let someone or something control our lives - the question is who or what is it? What are the "Pharaohs, the things, the people, the cravings" that own me? I don't think I can fully gain "freedom" from them, unless I understand what/who they are, and that I'm enslaved by them. Today, in our culture, there are many things that hold us back from living freely. Here are 3 that come to mind for me.
a) a desire for more "stuff"
b) striving for what the "world/others" deem as success
c) addiction
a) The desire for more stuff - is the belief that happiness will come from having more things. The problem is - that you will never be satisfied. Once you've "purchased or achieved" something you've desired, you begin to immediately look for the "next best thing" to fill that void of "wanting more". The old proverb that money can't buy happiness, is true. I think I have "bought in" to the worlds' lie that the more we have the happier we'll be. However, when I think back to the times that I have been most truly happy, it has not been when I got a new TV, or new clothes, or even when we bought a new car. The happiest times in my life have been when I've walked a journey with someone and seen them through to the other side, or when I saw my children for the first time, or when I've been able to serve someone in need. Having more stuff can never compare to these moments in life. Maybe if we struggle with desiring more, it's because we lack in these "rich" areas. So, today I ask myself, how can I be free from the "stuff" master and invest instead in more "rich" moments in my life?
b) Striving for what the world deems a success - We are constantly busy. Everyone says so. I think it's because we believe it's important. We are a society that gains identity by what we do. After we greet someone, the first thing we tend to ask is what they do. We place value on people by their status and occupation. What this tends to do is put a lot of pressure in our lives to succeed. We work hard hours, sometimes with little fruit. It can get exhausting, and in some cases can cause us to have a cynical attitude towards life, and may eventually result in burn out and/or anxiety. I don't believe there is anything wrong with working hard, or even succeeding. The problem for me comes when we place value on "doing stuff" to the point that it envelops every part of our life and depletes us of everything we have. I don't believe that we were created to work ourselves silly. I believe life is meant to be enjoyed not merely survived. I'm not sure anyone is actually impressed when I explain to them how busy I am - yet I find the urge to do so, in an effort to make myself feel important and to prove that my life isn't a waste of time. I guess next time I'm seeking value and purpose, instead of listing off an impressive list of things I've accomplished, I can remember my value doesn't lie in what others think of me but in who I am, and how I carry myself in relation to others.
c) Addiction - is a terrible master. Often in it, you know you are a slave to it. Whether your addiction is alcohol, drugs, smoking, pornography, chocolate, shopping, over-eating, watching TV, or hoarding, you tend to know it's unhealthy, and you try to free yourself from it again and again. Often you are ashamed about it, so it's hard to ask for help. But the problem is most addictions can't be overcome on your own. I have found that freedom from addiction is an expensive one. Not only is it frustrating resulting in tears and pain, it also requires hard work, discipline and stamina to stick to it. It requires humility to ask for help, and support and accountability from others, and who wants to do that? Unfortunately there are no quick fixes for freedom from addiction. Change often "has to" come when you've hit "rock bottom". But freedom is possible! First I try remember the value of rooting out the addiction, secondly I look at how to break the cycle in a way that will be long lasting (usually involving others), and thirdly I find a new alternative to take the place of the addiction. Freedom is possible!
Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
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