Living Free

Published by Deborah Negron M.A., B.S.

Moving Away From The Things that Bind Us This is Living Free

2 thessalonians 5
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore.

Keeping sober….
When I was a substance abuse clinician, one of the things I recall telling my patients was that sobriety makes a person start looking outwardly. It makes a person stop focusing on their own issues and start thinking about the people in their lives that matter. Sobriety cause a person to consider how their actions and behaviors affect other people around them. The thing is however, one cannot have a sober conversation with somene who is still using. Their mind is unsteady, their feelings clouded by the substances they are using.
As believers we live in a world where the influences all around us can hinder the way we live. Social media, entertainment, poor company, fitting in, or just making a buck can draw us away frm the sober living that Paul writes about here.
We are to put on daily the armour of God. Remembering the helmet of salvation is a key element to our success in the Christian walk.

Another thing I would tell my patients was they needed to make a conscious decision to change their places, people and things….
This concept was geared to help them get away from poor choices in company. They were also asked to change the places they frequented. Stay out of the trouble areas… the clubs, the places in twn they new drugs were easy to find. Take a different road. Get out of that kind of atmsphere. The problem is that misery loves company. And birds of a feather flock together…

Talk therapy works when the person has a true desire foor change. Without it words alone can only point out our flaws. For thse who were compelled t change by some external influence, change came very slowly.
But for some wh somehow were impacted by their losses and by their short time to make ammends, change came and it was definite. Thse that inwardly desired to make a difference in their lifestyle and in their sobriety made remarkable strides in their recovery.

This kind of help applies to those suffering from past trauma and from Depression as well. We can make changes in our lives that help us to form new ways of thinking and enable us to come out of the shadow of despair and reframe our narratives. Creating new behaviours, practicing healthy habits. Walks in the park, getting enough sun, eating right, making positive affirmations will help us change our outlook. Remembering that what we have been through cannot define us. We can make a new future for ourselves if we really decide to do so. It’s up to us to make the changes necessary for healing. Our choices will help determine our new outcomes.

As believers we are to change our behaviors too. We are to perform those things that will help to grow our faith. Assembling with other believers, worshiping together. Living life conscious of the choices and decisions we make in a way that these will glorify the Lord is a daily act of worship. We are to surrender the desires of the flesh. Well, to put it plainly we ought to react soberly, that is to think on how our actions will affect our relationship with the Lord. We must consider how what we do will affect other people around us and how we will honor or dishonor our commitment to Christ in what we do.

Lord today, please let me be a witness of your love.
Let me be sober in how I speak, think and behave.
Let my emotions not get the best of me. Let me be wise to remember to keep on the helmet of salvation which is my hope. Let me remember that the issues of life are temporary but the eternal gift of Christ is wrth living for. Help me to think and to consider this gift and t share the truth of God’s love to all I come in contact with today.

Lord let me remember what Philippians 4 verse 8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Let me help those in need and minister to them a word of hope. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.