Freedom & LifeSample

When we invited Jesus into our hearts, we experienced a divine encounter. We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was real and sent His Son Jesus to die for us so we could come into a relationship with Him. We believed wholeheartedly in the promise that we will live forever in heaven with the resurrected King. At that moment, we felt a direct connection to God.

Yet over time, we may have wavered in our faith journey. Hurts, misunderstandings and circumstances could have caused distance between God and us. Or, maybe we've had to deal with sin issues—which always create separation from God.

While our salvation is secure, the degrees of spiritual separation vary for each of us. Depending on where you rate yourself on the spectrum between near-to-God and far-from-God impacts how you approach God and His Word.

Sadly, too often, we become cynical as we become "seasoned in life." We lose passion, and we reduce our need for God as we rely on ourselves for stability and security. Inevitably, the more self-sustaining and distrustful we become, the less intimate is our relationship with our Savior.

After the prodigal son left his family, pursued a worldly lifestyle and utterly failed, he had nowhere to go but home. He felt worthless along the way, but from a distance his father saw him and was full of compassion. He ran to his son, wrapped his arms around him and kissed him. Despite the son's regretful account of events, the father announced a celebration because his son was home.

Our Heavenly Father withholds the same compassion—His banner over us is love, and He invites us to enter His presence with freedom and confidence. No matter what we've done, our confidence rests in Christ, who cancels all of our degrees of separation so that we can experience true freedom and a direct connection with our Heavenly Father.

Declare Today - "Nothing can separate me from God’s love!"

Written by Angie Dearolf