Free?

I have a 3-year old that still sleeps in bed with us. 

I'll give you a moment to let that sink in! I'm sure this brings back memories for some of you. For some of you, the fun is just beginning. There will be some that judge us for this. She's our third, sometimes you just have to survive! I guess with our older two we pushed so hard to get them in their own bed and it went by so fast. Maybe we are unknowingly wanting this "baby-phase" to not end? 

A typical night goes as follows. Our 3-year old falls asleep in her bed or our bed as we are getting ready for bed. We then put her in her own bed. By 3am she is back in our bed. The doctor tells us it is like giving an adult a piece of chocolate cake at 3am every morning. It trains our body to wake up each night for something delicious! I can't fault her, who doesn't like chocolate cake?! All that to say again, our 3-year old still sleeps in bed with us. 

​The other night this was the case. At a certain point in the night my wife woke up and took her to her own bed. When my wife got back in bed she noticed I was still at the edge of the bed as if our daughter was still with us. I even woke up that way the next morning. Sleeping, very uncomfortably I might add, as if someone was there that wasn't. The reality is that we were both free to spread out. Only my wife walked in it.

I see this a lot with followers of Christ. "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed." But do we walk in it. Do we even realize that we are no longer bound and restricted. Just as it is uncomfortable to sleep in an awkward position, it is burdensome to carry around something you don't have to carry anymore. Here are some things you can be free from today!

Free From Sin (Acts 13:38-39)
Not free to sin. Free from sin. Free from having to continue in sin. 
Free to Forgive (Ephesians 4:32)
Even psychologists will tell you that forgiveness is good for you. In Christ we have the ability now to really let go.
Free to Love (Galatians 5:13-15)
To really love. To love as Christ loved. To love as Jentezen Franklin wrote in his new book, To Love Like You've Never Been Hurt.
Free From Guilt (John 3:17)
Our past no longer has to define us. We are children of God. 
Free to Pray/Worship (Ephesians 3:12)
The idea is that we are so thankful to be in a country that gives us this freedom. The fact is, through the cross we were given this freedom. There isn't a country that could take it away...ask Daniel!

We could be here all day sharing about our freedoms in Christ, as we should! So often we are known more for what we can't do rather than what we can. I would encourage you to spread out and walk in your freedom that was bought at such a high price. We have it available here on earth...available today.