Pondering freedom…

This whole thing of “real freedom” has been a long journey. We’ve been taught about freedom, experienced it, seen it, struggled with it, failed at it, and re-engaged with it. Over all, God is so merciful. When we give up, He stands faithfully waiting. It all seems so elusive, about the time you think you’re free a trap ensnares in an unexpected way. An answer to the dangerous “Lord keep me humble” prayer J When you think you’re not free, God comes to show He is with you and working. An answer to the “Lord have mercy on me” prayer :D Over the past few years, Dallas Willard’s writings have challenged and given language to much of what I’ve felt. He says “Prayer is, above all, a means of forming character. It combines freedom and power with service and love. What God gets out of our lives – and indeed, what we get out of our lives – is simply the person we become. It is God’s intention that we should grow into the kind of person he could empower to do what we want to do.” (from Divine Conspiracy, p. 250) :D I’m thankful for the mercy of God and for the love of others. Local church community would lack freedom (and be frightening) without those 2 dynamics.