Blocks to Freedom

 ( I had to do this for school, so I figured I would post it as well::})


 Many people experience freedom and joy for a period of time after they get saved. But as the months pass, they start falling back into old sin. This causes confusion, frustration, and pain. They don`t understand what is causing them to lose their new-found freedom and joy. They don`t realize that from the beginning of time they have been making agreements with one of two influences: God or the devil. Continual agreements with the enemy create strongholds, and those strongholds are what cause them to fall back into old sin. In order to break those strongholds, it is necessary to look deep into the heart and renounce any agreements made that stop the flow of healing and continual freedom.
 God had given every person many gifts and talents, and even as small children, we start operating out of those gifts. The enemy doesn't want us to use them, so he places people or circumstances in out path to reject the way we use our talents. Even at such a young age, that hurts and silences us and causes a spirit of rejection to come upon us. When we feel that rejection, we start to block off our heart so we don't feel the pain, This causes us to block off our true identity, and distorts our gifts. When we put on a false identity so we don't feel rejected by others, we are really rejecting our self, and have no way of being real. Living in this state, we become very insecure. We see ourselves as inferior or vulnerable, which makes us feel apprehensive and uncertain. We don't trust ourselves or others, and don't have confidence in our abilities.
  Living in a state of continual rejection and insecurity leaves open doors for other of the evils tools, such as fear and anxiety. When we feel insecure, it causes us to live on edge, feel uncertain, and be distrustful. We start living in inner turmoil, and over-react to imagined fear. We dread the unknown, and feel like there is something 'out there' threatening us, when there is nothing. We expect failure and disaster until it affects every are of our life. Many people believe fear is an emotion, and it can be, but when it is something that affects us to the point of blocking us from being who God made us to be, its actually a spirit. A spirit that plays with our emotions. At its root, fear is a sin, because it is in direct opposition to faith in God. Its believing the enemy's lies, and giving permission for what you fear to happen.
 Insecurity and fear often pressure people to live in performance or denial. They feel the need to defend to defend themselves, or hide from and refuse to accept reality. they need to protect their ego. many people don't know who they really are, which causes them to look for approval and acceptance from others. They are then under the control of others,  and feel pressured to live up to that person's standards. Often they live in such a state of  denial that they really don't understand what is going on in their life, and just ignore their problems.
 Looking to others for acceptance instead of God will always cause us pain. We won't always be able to meet everyone's expectations, and we will get hurt. When we get hurt over and over again, especially if its by the same person, we become angry and bitter. Anger is always a secondary emotion used to keep our true feelings from surfacing. it is an intimidation tactic to keep people from stepping on our pain. Anger or bitterness punishes our loved ones, because they will feel the need to tread softly around our pain and make them want to leave us alone. It damages our relationship with others and with God.
 With anger comes pride and rebellion, the frame of mind in which we put ourselves above subjection to God, and show defiance to true, godly authority. It is an exalted opinion of ourselves, the excessive love of 'me'. Pride is the only cause of contention, and is anything in opposition to God. False humility is also a form of pride. It is believing that we are less than what God made us. Pride doesn't like being told what to do, and will do anything to convert what it's told to do into something of its own.
 All of these strongholds build on each other and grow stronger and stronger until they have you bound you tightly in a huge web of bondages. But its not hopeless! When we join God's kingdom, we have all the power we need to break off those bondages. We can take all our problems, sin, and strongholds to God through the power of the cross, and trade our trash for His treasures. He will break off those bondages for us. We just need to be at the point of seeing them for what they are, and turn them over to God.. The Bible explains the plans and purposes for our life, and when we start operating out of complete freedom, we will start to realize what that plan is. We will be able to start living out of the power and authority we have in Christ, and we will realize the amazing advantage we have over the enemy! Praise God for His never-ending love, and His gift of the Bible, to show us how to walk in freedom!