I Kept Wondering: At What Point Did We Lose Our Freedom?

 I Kept Wondering: At What Point Did We Lose Our Freedom?

At what point do we forget the name of God?  

At what point do we forget how to lay hold of the Great One?  

At what point do we forget to search Him out?  

At what point did the enemy creep in and bind us?  

At what point can we be made prey to the enemy's toys? At what point do those toys become our god?  

These thoughts crept into my mind a few nights ago. After watching a movie about Moses, I conversed with JJ, who asked, “But how did these once-great people become slaves? How did they get to the point where taskmasters were placed over them?” 

I replied with a biblical reference: “A Pharaoh who didn’t know Joseph and all he did for Egypt arose.” But then I wondered, what if it wasn't just the Pharaoh who forgot Joseph? What if the Israelites also forgot who their God is? Yes, they knew that their forefathers had a God; they kept talking about going to worship Him. But what if they had forgotten that this God could be their source of everything? Because they forgot, the enemy laid claim/stole their freedom through the mouth of Pharaoh.

Bondage doesn’t just come upon a person; one becomes bound when they stray from that which makes them free. God's Word in John 8:36 states:

"So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

However, when we lay low and forget how to engage with the Son of Man, we forget how to trade with Him. The enemy doesn’t just sow tares; he claims our freedom. 

While men slept, the enemy sowed tares. When we thought that our character didn’t matter, the enemy seized that opportunity to plant seeds that would bind our marriages, our businesses, our children, our ministries, and our ability to transition between seasons.

Because we slept and forgot how to do business with the Great One—the one who has the ability to keep us free— we began to play with foreign objects and succumbed to the tricks of the serpent's spirit, telling ourselves it didn’t matter. We convinced ourselves that we were on the right path.

But there is only one way: Jesus. We must choose His way to truly know whether our path will lead to freedom or bondage.

Stay Revived!

Nighttime Victories

I had a profound conversation with a very respected head of my unit in church. During our discussion, he mentioned a person he knew who had interceded for hours over the years. He concluded by saying, "You can see the result of his secret place in his life; it is quite evident." Those particular words planted a seed in my heart and marked the beginning of a new season for me—a fresh call to deep waters. It felt as though the Lord had ordained those words for my own victory.

Unable to navigate the afternoon, my nighttime began to transform into my time of seeking. At first, it began as mere human effort, but suddenly, the floodgates opened. Even during moments when I wanted to sleep through the night, it seemed the Lord had been waiting for me to start this journey. Much like Moses, who climbed Mount Sinai after years of being a shepherd, I began to encounter the Lord at this mount, and that was when my liberation started. Once liberated, my mandate unfolded.

Just as my summons became a communion, there were moments when it felt like a choir was being held within me, prompting me to arise to this communion. The Lord wants us to stray; in the beginning, it might just be our strength, but He takes it from there, granting us victories in unexpected places. The more I showed up, pressed in, and sought Him, the more I was being freed from strongholds I never knew existed. 

I had waited so long for victory, but as I came to the Lord daily in this nighttime season, He worked in me, one victory after another. At exactly three a.m., I felt these words in my heart: "While men slept, the enemy sowed tares."

Matthew 13:25:

"But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away."

 This isn't just a saying; it's a reality. There are victories to be claimed at the gates of the night, if only we would rise up and lay hold of them. In that moment, we can seize the enemy before he even attempts an attack.

God wants to reach out to you, but He is waiting for you at the gates of Adullam. There are tares to be uprooted, and there are victories to be won.

Stay Revived!

Don’t Give Up Yet — God Is Working Behind the Scene

 

Have you ever poured your heart and soul into something, set everything up just right, only to feel like your efforts were in vain? Maybe you’ve done all you know to do, and yet the results you hoped for haven’t come. The silence, the waiting, and the lack of visible progress can feel defeating.

If that’s where you are, take heart. It’s okay to feel low sometimes, but don’t allow that feeling to define your journey. Just because you haven’t seen the fruit of your labor yet doesn’t mean the harvest isn’t coming. Even when it’s not visible, God is always at work, behind the scenes, aligning things in your favor.

There are moments when we pray and wait, and still feel like heaven is silent. Our challenges seem endless, and the answers feel delayed. But the truth remains: the Lord is never idle. His timing is perfect. What you’re waiting for will come to pass in His appointed time.

So, don’t give up yet.

I may not know the specifics of your journey—how long you’ve been holding on, how many doors have closed, or how much it feels like time is slipping away. Perhaps others seem further ahead. Still, friend, I urge you: don’t quit now.

The journey may be painful. It might have left you weary and questioning. But hear this: God is saying, “I will work it out.” It's not the end. Hold fast. Wait on Him.

“Real help comes from the Lord.” — Psalm 3:8 (MSG)

Waiting isn’t easy. God’s timetable often stretches our faith. But those who refuse to grow weary in the wait will one day rejoice. His Word promises, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved.” (Psalm 125:1)

Be encouraged.

Don’t give up yet. God is near. He’s working all things together for your good. And in due season, your laughter will be heard in the open.

Stay revived!

Fixing Life’s Puzzle with the Holy Spirit

 As we piece together the puzzle of life, we begin to realize that every step and challenge we face shapes our relationship with God. These experiences draw us into deeper communion, where we learn to depend more fully on Him.

The Holy Spirit is always present, helping and guiding us through the process. Sometimes we think we’ve put the pieces together correctly, and in our eyes, it looks right. But when it's not truly aligned with God’s plan, it doesn't just fit. At these moments, the Holy Spirit gently leads us to retrace our steps and fix what isn’t fitting.

In those moments, we might wonder, “Why didn’t I see this?” It’s not about lacking intelligence or skill. The Spirit allows us to go through certain paths to teach us that life isn’t about doing things our way but about surrendering to God’s direction.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5 6 (NIV)

Vulnerability is key in this journey. When we become open and honest before God, He meets us via his grace. He invites us to run to Him, not in shame, but in trust, and helps us overcome what we cannot fix on our own.

We must ask the Lord daily to guide us through this journey. On our own, we are weak, but with Him, we are strengthened. Though the process of fixing life’s puzzle can be tiring and painful at times, the presence of the Holy Spirit empowers us to not only fit the right pieces together but also see the full picture of where God is taking us.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
— Romans 8:26 (NIV)

This journey is not merely about solving problems—it’s about aligning with God’s eternal purpose and trusting His Spirit to guide us through every piece.

Stay Revived!