Captivity Or Freedom?

I read this very interesting Harriet Tubman quote recently. She said, "I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves". I said, WOW! I was so stunned at this, and I also couldn't help but to think how it still speaks of people today.

In this scenario, Harriet Tubman was like Jesus Christ. She promised them a better hope, a better future, a carefree life -- not in chains -- but they couldn't see past their captivity. They had been living in bondage for so long that they didn't even know they we're bound. Like most of us, captivity was... NORMAL!

When referring to us, I'm not speaking of physical chains, but MENTAL chains. Unforgiveness, Bitterness, Anger, Hatred, Fear, Worry, etc. These strongholds hinder us from living a joyous life. Some of us are afraid to love because we were hurt in the past and fear being hurt again. Some of us refuse to fully trust friends / family because we were betrayed and never want to experience that feeling again. We were not created to live under these constraints and Jesus can set us free, if we can first see that we are bound!

Isaiah 61:1 speaks of Jesus, saying... "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound".

If you're already living in the freedom that the Lord has come to give us, I praise God for you. But if you're not, I just want you to say this prayer aloud, with sincerity and in faith, and you too will be free...

PRAYER:
Lord, Help me to love again. Help me to trust again. 
I cast all my cares upon you, Lord. And I ask that you heal every hurt in my life.
I believe that you died to save me. And I believe that in you, I am made whole. 
I ask that you come into my life. I ask that your will be done in me.
I thank you, and I praise you.
In Jesus' name I pray, 
Amen.