Living Changed: After DivorceIhe Atụ

Freedom

Jesus came so that you could have life and have it to the full. But you have an enemy who would love nothing more than to steal that beautiful life from you and keep you wallowing in pain, bitterness, and shame. The question is, what legacy do you want to leave? 

My family has a history of broken marriages. My parents got divorced when I was 8 years old, and my grandparents on both sides were divorced several times. I always swore that wouldn’t be me, but when the time came, I didn’t put the necessary work into myself or into my marriage. After my divorce, I decided it had to stop. With the help of God, the line of brokenness in my family would end with me. 

My first step was to find healing—and not just from my divorce but from the different wounds throughout my life that caused issues in my relationships. I had to forgive past hurts, start loving myself for who God created me to be, and learn how to love people without placing unrealistic expectations on them. With counseling, a lot of prayer, and a solid community of believers around me, I became a healthier version of me.

When I started dating again, I had to be careful not to fall into old habits. I knew that if I wanted a different kind of marriage, I had to date differently. I looked for evidence of the fruit of the Spirit rather than settling for flattering words or good intentions. We put boundaries in place to protect the purity of our relationship. We served at the church, studied the Bible together, and prayed with each other. He understood that I was protecting my legacy and he wanted to be a part of it.

Living in the freedom Jesus died to give you means being willing to forgive others, surrender your brokenness to God, and put your identity in Him. Don’t believe the lie that you’re damaged goods and no one will ever want you. It’s not true. God loves you more than you can imagine and He’s in the business of making all things new. 

If you let Him, God will make you whole and mold you into His image. People will be drawn to the hope, peace, and joy of Jesus shining from within you. When that happens, don’t settle for anything less than God’s best for you. How you date matters to God. How you co-parent matters to God. How you choose to use your experience and help others matters to God. You’re leaving a legacy, and you get to choose what it looks like. I pray you choose to live in the freedom Jesus offers you.

God, thank you for who you are and all you have done for me. Help me to take what I learned in this Bible Plan and apply it to my life. Help me to forgive. Heal my past hurts and make me whole. Help me to see that I am fully loved and constantly pursued by you. Give me hope for the future and faith to believe you’re working for my good. Use my life to help others and glorify your name. I want to be changed, God. Show me the way to live in your freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

We pray God used this plan to minister to your heart.
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