No Longer a Slave
Chains can be visible or invisible. When you are a slave to something like fear, the chains are not physical and can't be seen. And sometimes that might be worse because it's harder to identify and defeat. Consider the following:
Mental slavery is a state of mind where discerning between liberation and enslavement is twisted. Where one becomes trapped by misinformation about self and the world... Mental Slavery is far more sinister than physical slavery because the chains are invisible and are transmitted across generations. (Mental Slavery)
Although I used the above quote differently than it was intended, I believe it applies to fear as well as an African slave mentality. A slave mentality can take many forms.
On Sunday, our pastor was talking about marriage and what it might take to make it better. It's called going through the "tunnel of chaos," and it's a scary place to be. Many will not venture there because of fear. When this is the case, we call it being a slave to fear.
When I think of the verse in 2 Timothy 1:7 which says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.", I struggle with believing it. There are many promises in the Bible that I read or hear and have no trouble believing, and there are others like this one that is much harder to grasp. This is true of everyone. It's all the Word of God, but each one of us is at different places in our life and some things we are ready for and other things we are not.
If the promise or truth from God is a seed that is planted when it's read or heard, why does the seed sometimes take root and others times it doesn't? It's the soil. When the seed is planted in fallow ground, it cannot take root. The soil has not been properly cultivated. Jeremiah 4:3-4 says, "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!..." If the soil is our hearts, then it's our hearts that must be cultivated.
This truth applies to more than just fear, but since fear is a struggle for many, including myself, I chose this. If fear is not your struggle, think about what is and surrender it to the Lord.
When you cultivate soil, it is turned over and over until it is soft and pliable and ready for the seed to be planted so it will go down into the earth and take root. Once a seed is planted in good soil, we must wait. Everyone knows that between planting and the harvest there is a time of waiting. While we are waiting, there is still something to do. In order to grow, the seed must be watered and receive sunlight. For us, it might mean going through freedom ministry where God can bring to your mind memories or reasons that fear is still controlling you and lead you to let them go, forgive or whatever is needed to gain mental freedom. Or it might mean spending more time with God and repeating truths and promises that God has given. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, " For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ." But the rest is up to God. He is the One with the power to free us from our mental bondage.
One of the things that have helped many people is to make a list of truths from God's Word and say them over and over until they take root. When you begin speaking them, they may feel like they are just words and not something you believe. But over time, you will start to believe them because they are God's Word. And His Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12). Although I'm still working on fear, there is a song I like that is full of truth. It's called No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music.
I found five verses that go along with the song. The truth is getting in me, and God is working and I believe that one day, fear will not be a struggle. If you could have seen me 10 years ago, you would know that I am not the same person. Fear does not have the same level of control over me. It's okay to proclaim the truth before it becomes a reality because we are agreeing with God. When I say, "I'm no longer a slave to fear," I know that is what God says about me. It's what He says about you. He has already freed you. It may take time and a new mentality to break the invisible chains that still bind you, but that doesn't mean it's not true; it just means you don't believe it yet. So go ahead and declare it!
You unravel me with a melody Psalm 32:7 ...You surround me with songs of deliverance You surround me with a song Of deliverance from my enemies 'Til all my fears are gone [2x] I'm no longer a slave to fear Galatians 4:7 Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child I am a child of God From my mother's womb You have chosen me Love has called my name I've been born again to my family Your blood flows through my veins [4x] I'm no longer a slave to fear 2 Tim. 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity I am a child of God I am surrounded By the arms of the Father I am surrounded By songs of deliverance Zeph. 3:17 He will calm all your fears, he will rejoice over you with joyful songs We've been liberated From our bondage We're the sons and the daughters Let us sing our freedom You split the sea So I could walk right through it My fears are drowned in perfect love You rescued me And I will stand and sing Ps. 40:3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God I am a child of God. You split the sea So I could walk right through it You drowned my fears in perfect love You rescued me And I will stand and sing I am a child of God. Yes, I am I am a child of God I am a child of God Yes, I am I am a child of God Full of faith Yes, I am a child of God I am a child of God [3x] I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God