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New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 27:4

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.

Deuteronomy 16:15

15 For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.

1 Samuel 4:5

5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!

Psalm 34:5

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Galatians 5:22

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

BREAKING FREE DEVOTIONAL

© 5 Day Reading Plan by Beth Moore

Isaiah 64:4

4 For since the world began,
    no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
    who works for those who wait for him!

Isaiah 43:10-13

10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord.
    “You are my servant.
You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
    and understand that I alone am God.
There is no other God—
    there never has been, and there never will be.
11 I, yes I, am the Lord,
    and there is no other Savior.
12 First I predicted your rescue,
    then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world.
No foreign god has ever done this.
    You are witnesses that I am the only God,”
    says the Lord.
13 “From eternity to eternity I am God.
    No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.
    No one can undo what I have done.”

"The Benefits of Breaking Free"

Isaiah’s glorious thesis on captives set free describes God’s benefits this way: “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isa. 64:4). 

God wants to do for you what your eyes have never seen, your ears have never heard, and your mind has never conceived. But just as the Babylonians held the children of Israel captive, areas of captivity can keep us from living out the reality of Isaiah 64:4. Here’s our definition of captivity: “A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for her.” 

One of the most effective ways to detect captivity is to measure whether we are enjoying the benefits God intends for every child of God. Ask yourself: Am I experiencing the benefits of my covenant relationship with God through Christ, or do the benefits I read in Scripture seem more like warm, fuzzy thoughts? 

According to the Book of Isaiah, God has graciously extended the following benefits to His children.

1.  To know God and believe Him 
2. To glorify God 
3. To find satisfaction in God
4. To experience God’s peace
5. To enjoy God’s presence

These benefits and their scriptural references will serve as a road map to lead you home when you’ve been carried away captive. Benefit 1 is “To know God and believe Him.” 

One of your chief purposes is to know God intimately and with reverent familiarity.

God not only desires for us to know Him, He also wants us to believe Him! Many variables in our lives affect our willingness to trust God. A loss or betrayal can deeply mark our level of trust. 

Trusting an invisible God does not come naturally to any believer. A trust relationship grows only by stepping out in faith and making the choice to trust. The ability to believe God develops most often through pure experience. “I found Him faithful yesterday. He will not be unfaithful today.”

Rejoice that Christ wants to set us completely free to know Him and believe Him. Part of the process will be acknowledging that something is holding us back and learning to identify what it may be. 

I am immeasurably thankful for your willingness to join me on this freedom trail. I am praying for you daily.