Giving The Gift of Freedom

On the way to work this morning God was speaking to me about my relationships. The relationships with my friends, my family but most of all the relationship with my children. We know that being parents is a mighty task and it does require the grace of God and we are all guilty at some point of losing our cool and saying things that should have never been said. In Jeremiah 34:15 it says "Then you recently turned and did what was right in my sight-every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. The Bible says we can "proclaim liberty" to others. We should encourage ourselves to give the gift of freedom to others. People will love us for it, and it is in its own way a show of love to them. Obviously, this does not mean letting others do whatever they want to do. But it does mean that we stop trying to control people and situations. For years I have tried to control and remold my children and those close around me. Finally, just last night I realized that my efforts were acts of selfishness, not love. I told myself that I simply wanted God's best for them; however, I had decided what His best was and was trying to force it on them. I just turned the situation that I was facing over to God and believed that He would rectify the injustice that was done. HE DID!!! I sat back and watched it unfold right before my eyes and it was so beautiful. When we give God complete control, our joy increases and we can enter into His rest. Keep your atmosphere free and relaxed knowing that through your faith God will move on your behalf. When people make mistakes, do not make them feel rejected, but go the extra mile to make them feel forgiven, accepted, and free. You will notice that as you do this, they will recognize how you treated them and they in turn will treat others in the same manner. TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.