Friday, January 21, 2011

Free...

"Bound"
Beautiful artwork I purchased several years
ago from Bound Staff Press on Etsy.com. 

"If you love something, set it free..."

I was sitting in bed doing my bible study last night (finally getting back on track...jeesh) and came across a little orange sticky note in my bedside table drawer (as I was rooting around for my Pez). On it I had scribbled,
"If you love something, set it free...God set us free."

I'd forgotten I'd written that down. And it was suddenly such a profound thought to me. We've all heard the saying, yeah, yeah, yeah....love something, set it free...blah blah. But I'd never thought of it in regard to God. It occurred to me that it is exactly what God does for us. Before God sends us to this earth, we are with Him. It says it right in the bible...in Jeremiah 1:5...
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..."

And how about Psalm 139?
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Before we were born...we were already meant to be. God already had us planned. He created us...He knew us...He formed us...for a purpose. This is so amazing to me...that He always knew that at this very time I would be here, on this earth. He sent me, and you...for such a time as this.Wow...

OK...so this is how my thoughts went:

He formed me in my mother's womb. He sent me to earth. Basically...He set me free. Because He loved me.

So I was born into the world...and I lived however I wanted for many, many years. I lived my life without any regard to Him. I never really gave God much thought. I had a knowledge of God...or "something bigger than myself" but I came to a point in my life that I wasn't sure I believed in GOD. Or at least I didn't want to call anything GOD. Did I believe in a higher power? Yes. I knew I didn't believe in the big bang "theory". Even in my unbelief I knew that was a crock. But I wasn't comfortable calling whatever it was God. But now I know that whether I believed it or not, God did send me here. He did create me. He loved me, He formed me and then He set me free. And off I flew.

We all have a God shaped hole in our hearts. And nothing else will ever fill it but Him. Not drugs. Not alcohol. Not sex. Not work. Not tarot cards. Not palm reading. Not "spirituality". The thing that we are always in search of...that longing we feel but can't quite fulfill...it's that little hole in our heart that only God can fill.

I accepted God into my heart when I was 32 years old. It was a rainy night...I was watching TV with my husband...and he came across a TV evangelist. And he listened. Now any other day, I would have made fun. But not this time. This time I listened. Intently. And I cried. And when this man on TV invited me to say a prayer inviting the Lord into my heart...I did. You can imagine my surprise when I found out this man with the powerful voice was Billy Graham. Imagine that. I just accepted God into my heart in the middle of my living room floor. Wonders never cease!

God came into my heart...He took His rightful place...He filled that black hole...and made ME whole. At that moment...this little bird that He set free 32 years earlier returned to Him...because I loved Him. And I knew it in an instant. An instant. This never ceases to amaze me...ever. I marvel at how God got a hold of me...how He got my attention, finally, and opened my eyes so that I could see...Truth. And Love. And Hope.

Let me tell you that life has NOT been the same since. I am not the same person I was 11 years ago. Thank you GOD. Walking with God is a process. It's a journey. And like any other journey there are ups and downs...hills and valleys...good and bad...highs and lows. But in the end...and through it all...God is good. And He wants good things for us. He loves us....and is waiting for us to fly back to Him.

"If you love something, set it free.
And if it yours, it will return to you."

Dear God,
I am yours...
Love,
Michelle




10 comments:

Nancy said...

beautiful. and so perfect for me today. tomorrow will be the one year mark that i lost dad. this struck a chord with me. again, just perfect for me. thank you friend.

teekaroo said...

Beautiful. I have never quite thought about it like that, but you are right. He set us free to learn for ourselves, but He's waiting for us all to come back.

Unknown said...

This is a very beautiful post with all of your truth and of His words. His words are such a balm and so full of honey!

WhiteStone said...

Those verses have long been of much reassurance to me. And more so as I get older. It's astounding, really! Before I was ever born...while I was in my mother's womb! Astounding! And Wonderful!

You Can Call Me Jane said...

How lovely. Thank you for sharing more of your story. I, too, had never thought of things in these exact terms either. We are loved so dearly. Thank you for the reminder.

Stephanie said...

Beautifully written Michelle. It is amazing that He loves us so much that He lets us go. Someone once said that a human being can be forced to do anything....except to love. He wants us to love Him by choice and then He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can. Amazing. I really loved hearing your story of conversion...Billy Graham..that's just awesome.

Anonymous said...

your story really is amazing. TV, living room - and look at you now!

Anonymous said...

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..."
this is everything for me. What I want from my life and how I search for the life I live in this world. There is, and always has been, a plan for us all. before we knew life and before we realized the lives we live everyday, its all been decided. powerful faith and trust.

Camille said...

Hopped over from *Thy Hand* to visit with you. It is lovely to read of how the LORD saved you and set you free...HIS ways are perfect! How blessed to belong to HIM...from before the foundation of the world!! What an incredible thought.

Many blessings,
Camille

Kimberly said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your heart. Goes well with my Fly Free motto for this year. :)