In the United States, we talk about raising our children to be independent of their parents and to stand on their own. It seems a noble goal – for adults to take care of themselves and their families without the support of previous generations. The ultimate goal is to allow freedom for individuals, freedom to be the person they want to be, a goal for each generation rooted in the American right to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
But is it God’s way?
Almost daily, I learn more deeply the revelation of my inappropriately independent spirit. I now consider that a better teaching and example for our children might well be learning to transfer dependence on parents and family to the Lord God Almighty. He longs to be friends with us as individuals, to have loving relationship with each person through His Son, Jesus Christ. This understanding means that parents need to model their dependence on God for all things, a characteristic in my life that I did not always demonstrate to my own sons.
Increased dependence on His all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful nature gives me more freedom to be myself than I have ever known. God’s confirmation and assurance of my gift and calling as a writer has grown in the last 15 months. Certainty that I am walking out His plan for me undergirds my faith that He will provide so I can write this blog as well as books that give Him glory and relate to readers His faithfulness. The direction for my new business supporting other self-publishing authors with services is only a part of what He is doing.
The freedom to be myself grows while becoming more like Him through His work in me, with me, and through me. I look forward to His continuing change of me into His image. I have recently been reminded of the old song that lists three daily prayers: That I may see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly. May all I am truly reflect Him more completely day by day.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
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