purchased.

last week, chuck and i had the opportunity to share an encounter with God that has marked us.  as we worshipped, and then began sharing testimonies and encounters, the presence of God flooded the room.  it was a moment where the Maker of heaven and earth felt so close that you don’t know whether to sit or stand or laugh or cry.  when God comes near…

it was refreshing and freeing to share about a moment where the Holy Spirit came and revealed Jesus.  i was laying on the prayer room floor in DC in 2008.  i looked up and i saw the face of Jesus.  at first, i didn’t even want to look.  i felt unworthy and overwhelmed at the sight of His face.  slowly as if the Father was turning my face i looked at this Man.  as i looked, i saw dried blood on His face.  i was immediately overcome with a sense of His great love and my own gratitude.  the thought that ran through my head was, “that should have been my blood.”

i realized that i never again had the right to doubt His love for me.  He has already proven that and i don’t need one more thing to believe that.

that blood it purchased things for us!

freedom.

from fear of man.

from shame.

from insecurity.

from death.

from the lies of the enemy.

and the list can go on and on…

how often to i go to a store and buy something then just say to the clerk, “ah, you can just keep it”?  umm, NEVER!  i like shopping as much as the next girl, and as soon as that transaction has gone through i am happily bopping out the door, excited to show my husband my latest find. 🙂

the tragic thing is that often we do this with the blood of Jesus.  He has purchased so many things, and we can often leave them at the counter.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”

Romans 8:14-15

When Jesus left this world He gave us the Spirit so that we can live a life that is no longer in bondage to fear!

When a lie passes through my mind that wants to drag me back into captivity, i think to myself “Jesus bought me a free pass out of that awful place.”

i don’t know about you, but i want to live my life fully enjoying all that was purchased for me!

i pray that today we will fully live in the land of freedom.  the gate is open, and the Holy Spirit is ready to usher us all in.