“it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  galatians 5:1

“now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 corinthians 3:17

“let everything be done decently and in order.”  1 corinthians 14:40

so today I’m sitting at my classroom desk writing this.  yes.  I know.  it’s saturday.

with a heavy sigh i leaned back in my chair a few moments ago.  feeling completely overwhelmed by the mass of unfiled paperwork on my table, i covered my face with my hands and asked myself how things got so out of control.

why didn’t i take care of these items when I should have and could have, during the school year on a regular basis as needs arose?  a few moments each day or week, and it would all be in order.  but now there’s this mass of undone work.

and it’s in the way.

to start another school year like this just won’t be a smooth ride.  going forward isn’t going to flow.

to experience the freedom of a new school year, i’m gonna have to spend some time and energy dealing with this junk, item by item.

sitting here thinking over this, i see a parallel in my walk with God and my fellowship with others around me.  during those times when things don’t feel smooth, don’t seem to flow, and can’t go forward, i need to ask God what is in the way.

and then I need to deal with it.

sometimes it’s a lack of personal, intimate fellowship with Him.  i don’t mean reading a devotional or tuning the radio to a Christian music station.  what i mean is getting ahold of the scriptures and sitting in the quiet with the word of God.  to see what HE wants to say to ME.  what i mean is setting aside some real time to pour out my heart to God in prayer and then be willing to wait for His response.

sometimes it’s unforgiveness.  i need to let go of bitterness, offense, and making everything about  me.  I need to have that difficult conversation or confess to God my critical, judgmental attitude.

sometimes it’s unbelief.  do i really believe God, which is way deeper than just believing in God?  do i know Him, know His character, know His word and believe what He says about Himself and what He says about me?  do i walk in true belief or doubt most of the time?

sometimes it’s a wounding.  maybe a memory.  or something that someone said to me or about me.  do i need to ask God for healing?  to show me where He was present during that time, to remind me that He never takes His eyes off me, never lets go of me, and only allows into my life that which has real purpose?

sometimes it’s idolatry.  how much of my thoughts, energy, or finances are going toward temporal things rather than eternal things?  am i investing myself in people, or just looking for the comfortable way through life?

today and this week i’ll spend more time than i want to at my classroom table getting caught up on what’s undone, what’s in the way. then and only then will i be free to enjoy the school year.  i’ll have the energy and time to pour into the 19 new third graders God has assigned into my care.  i’ll be free to embrace the next season He has for me.

what’s in your way?  what’s keeping you from embracing the season you’re in?  what needs to be done, forgiven, healed, completed, “filed away” for good so that you can experience freedom in your walk with Christ and your relationships with others?

ask God.  He’ll tell you.

He’ll even give you wisdom to find your way through to the other side.

and then you’ll be free.

because then nothing will be in the way.