I was thinking recently about the things that make us feel “boxed in”. The things that bring constraints, pressure, insecurities, fear, the lies of the devil, religiosity, legalism, and narrow mindedness.
Perhaps all of us feel boxed in at times.Trapped. Inadequate. Struggling for freedom from our faults and weaknesses; for the freedom to live successfully in our callings, walking with God. Once we get boxed things start to be shut down in our lives.
The devil’s plan to steal, kill, destroy, bind up, pressurize and steal our hopes and dreams. His plan for mankind is that we will struggle through life barely existing. (John 10:10)
God declares that He has given us freedom. To liberate, equip and deliver us. “For freedom Christ has set us free; (Galatians 5:1).”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).
However how many of us get boxed in and conditioned to think and do and live a certain way? There is a saying “Don’t get so busy making a life that you forget to live”, but how many of us do exactly that? We box ourselves into a certain way of thinking, doing, and living. Not only that, we often “box” God into our thinking and understanding of what is possible, correct or even spiritual.
When we allow ourselves to be “boxed in” and then box God, we risk diminishing His bigness, splendor and really How spectacular He is.
Think of creation; the universe, stars, the majestic scenery, all creations colour and variety. All creation cries out about the greatness of God.
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Isaiah 40:12,22)
What is your view of God? Do you see Him as the one who cheers you on, who says “yes”, who imparts, builds up, and equips? Or do you see Him as one you expect to say “No” No to your hopes, dreams and requests?
It’s not about not being grateful or living contently, but examining our view of God and how if it is a small, narrow, constrained, a can’t or won’t view, it can lead us to being bound up, and to having a particular world view. To our thinking negatively about the world and life in general. For our answers to be “No” instead of “Yes”
Do you treat others with love and openness and look for the good and blessing? How do you live and what do you see when you look at the world?
Do you see life, colour, beauty, and have good expectations of the day ahead, of the future, and the plans and purposes God has planned out in advance for you to walk in?
Or do you see something different? Hopelessness, death, despair, sickness, and a dread of the future. Are you always saying “No”, instead of “lets see how we can make this happen? Are you critical of others and those different from you?
Maybe you are thinking “I’m like the No person, I am critical negative and expect the worst”. Perhaps circumstances, past hurts, even your personality have caused you to build walls that have boxed you in.
God is not like that, and He didn’t create us like that. Hurts, disappointments and circumstances can alter our outlook on life. But look at Jesus (who came to reveal the Father to us). He healed all who came to him, he delivered, he set free, he forgave, he loved, he laughed, rejoiced, partied, he embraced people and life. That’s who we are made to be like. But we can get boxed in!
But we can break free. The best way to break a box open is to lift the lid, to push down the walls and let the light in. Where we have built walls they can come down. Where we have become constrained we can walk in freedom. We can let God, and we can let others into our life.
We may have to let go of pride, and realise we do need God, and we do need others. But how much better to break free from being boxed in, than to live constrained and suffocated.
Let God in today. Let him begin to heal you, to renew your thinking, to release fresh dreams and hope. Break out of the box and go and live your life with God 100%.
Get around joyful faith filled people who look at the world as a big amazing place full of God. Don’t go looking for the negative. Start to speak good things, to expect good things, and then to thank him for the blessing each day holds.
The number one reason Satan tries to box us in is to slow us down from going all out for God and really living meaningful full lives. He would love to eventually smother us inside that box and destroy us, keeping us from God’s will in our lives. So, today get stirred to the point you want to break out of the box that is holding you back. GET Out of the BOX!
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