Freedom.

Luke 7:36-56

This was such an awesome text for me and God revealed so much to me through it. 

Just to brief you, one of the Pharisees had invited Jesus over for dinner. A sinful woman heard about Him being there and she went there with her alabaster box of perfume. She came in and she was pouring out to Jesus. She was so desperate for a renewal and refreshing. She was at Jesus' feet crying, wiping her tears off with HER HAIR. (She wasn't worried about being cute, she wasn't worried about a fresh flat iron or curls falling.)  She poured her good perfume on His feet. To me that showed surrender. That showed that she was willing to give Him her all and show Him just how serious she was!  When the Pharisee that invited Jesus over to dinner saw this, he was trying to figure out how he was letting this "sinful woman" be all over Him like that.  (Verse 39) The awesome thing about what happened after that showed me that you don't always have to fight your battles. He will intervene for you. You don't have to prove yourself to people looking on the outside. When everyone else writes you off, He comes in and intercedes and comes to your rescue! He shows His power! Let Him fight your battles. Just keep on pressing into Him! Keep on worshipping with all you got! Keep giving your all and watch HIM elevate you, heal you, free you, love you like no other in spite of! 

Jesus gave Simon a straightening. He basically told him that from the moment that woman came to Him, she was showing how desperate she was. She had been at His feet crying and pouring out to Him. She was giving her all. She honored Him. She kissed His feet and poured her perfume on Him. He was like ummmm you didn't do any of that. Jesus gave Simon a good reminder that He came into HIS house on HIS invitation, and he didn't even greet Him that way. 

People will try to bring up all your bad when you're trying to do good! When you're trying to push through and get past all the old things, people will try to remind you and others of WHAT YOU USED TO DO! They will see all your wrong, but won't even be sweeping up their own mess. Don't worry about who's spectating. Stop worrying about and being ashamed of your past. Stop being ashamed of your process. Don't worry about who knows what because if you go to Jesus and sincerely repent and turn away from the old things, YOU ARE FORGIVEN AND FREE!  Don't let people keep you in bondage just because they have a problem with LETTING GO! Honey if you want to keep replaying my past, know it's just that, MY PAST! I'm stepping into something new. Every human is flawed in one way or another. There's NO EXCEPTION. 

JESUS told her "your sins are forgiven." (Verse 48) Then he told her "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." I love how he told her to "go in peace" because He knew there were still going to be people talking. There were still going to be people trying to downtalk, downplay, and discredit her encounter with Him. There were still going to be people that couldn't accept her moving forward. There were going to be times where people and things tried to get her to feel bad about her past. BUT NO! When JESUS freed her, that was it. All that mess was forgiven and she was no longer in bondage. That old person was no longer her. I can't say this enough, DON'T LET PEOPLE KEEP YOU BOUND! Don't let your negative thoughts keep you bound. Rejoice over your past. You know why? Because your past is OVER! 

Instead of feeling bad about the things you've done, say thank you Jesus for opening my eyes and allowing me to see that what I was doing was hindering me and not helping me. Thank You Jesus for loving me unconditionally and seeing how bad I wanted to be free. 

He sees your heart. Even if nobody else sees when you're in your quiet time praying and crying and speaking over your life, He does. When you put your faith into action, He will show up and do His part. 

It doesn't matter if it was just yesterday that you were doing something you know you had no business, if you want that true change, GO TO HIM! Even if the people who you were doing it with try to say "weren't you just out here last night doing such and such with me?" Again, DON'T LET PEOPLE KEEP YOU BOUND!!! Yes it's going to take consistency and dedication, but when you want it, YOU GO GET IT!!! 

I pray that these scriptures encourage you. Let this woman and Jesus' encounter help you to realize that at the end of the day, He sees the heart! Even if not a single soul on this Earth ever believe you're genuine, keep pressing into Him! Keep going to Him with all you have and know that He will meet you right where you are. 

I encourage you to read the text for yourself. The word is so awesome. Let Him take you deeper and give you wisdom and understanding that no man can! 

Get free and stay free. 

Who the son sets free, HE IS FREE INDEED!