I loved the ocean and it’s inhabitants when I was a child. Although I am not a beach dweller by nature, I find God’s ocean creatures fascinating. I love their incredible beauty and variety of species. Consequently, my husband planned an incredible trip for me in which I was able to be a “marine biologist” for a day at Sea World. Many of Sea World’s attractions are there for rehabilitation. That came as quite a surprise to me. The plan is to release them back into the wild. They, therefore, do not allow a lot of human contact. They don’t want marine life to become reliant on humans and come to a place in which they almost prefer captivity.

This was particularly true for the manatees (which are creatures that I absolutely adore). Some of the manatees had been severely injured. Those injuries prevented their release back into the wild. But the goal for the rest was to keep human contact at a minimum. Despite attempts to release them back into the wild, manatees will seek out boats and human contact. It’s almost as if they prefer captivity.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we can behave a lot like those manatees. We can wander aimlessly back to behaviors that we once knew. It’s almost as if we prefer captivity.

Before we became followers of Christ, we were in bondage to our sin. We were being held captive by our own sin. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” Luke 4:18.

But we are set free from that sin once we come to know Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36.

But we have a tendency to pick up those old chains and slip them back on. We slip back into old sin. We slip back into believing old lies that the enemy whispered. And we put on the chains of fear, doubt, hopelessness, and despair. It’s as if we prefer captivity. We gravitate back toward what we once knew instead of the life abundant life that God desires for us. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.

Then we sit there as if we were being held captive again. When Jesus already set us free. He not only removed the chains, but he also destroyed the locks. So we are sitting there in chains that don’t even lock, as if we prefer captivity.

It is time to believe God’s promises. It is time to start living a free and abundant life. And to stop living as though we prefer captivity. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.

There is a hurting and dying world looking to us for hope. Are we going to show them what freedom looks like? Or, are we going to sit here in imaginary chains? Captivity won’t draw them to God.

Father God, thank you for freedom. Thank you for that freedom that was provided through your shed blood, Lord. Forgive us for living as though you had never set us free, Lord. Help us to live as though we are free sons and daughters of the King of Kings! Be glorified in us, Father. We pray this in your precious and Holy name Jesus Amen.

Have you been struggling with sin, unable to break free? Our Heavenly Father loves you so much. He loves you so much that His one and only Son died to provide that freedom. Please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). You will find a prayer outlined on that page. And, if you will pray that prayer from the bottom of your heart, God promises to forgive you. Once we repent, God forgives us and we are no longer a slave to sin. He even provides a way out of temptation. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Stop living like you prefer captivity and seek freedom. Seek Jesus. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.

Luv Ya!