Freedom

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Martin Luther King Jr

Freedom is one of the things we tend to take for granted unintentionally. How often do we stop and realize that we have complete freedom to believe what we want. We have the freedom to marry who we please and establish our lifestyle how ever we please.

Gratitude goes out to all the men and women who have fought and given their life for this country. 

When I think of freedom I realize that even though we are free to choose and live as we please; we tend to bind ourselves to things that in turn control us. We live as we are free on the exterior but enslaved to things that steal our true freedom. 

Debt, toxic relationships, addictions, inclination to materialistic wants, our job or career are some examples of things that can indeed steal our freedom from under us.

We are free to choose, but we tend to choose lifestyles that steal our freedom away. Are we really living in freedom? 

It is possible to want and crave a donut knowing it is not good for us. It does not mean we are going out of our way to go purchase a dozen of them. However, someone walks in to work and makes it available to you; do you turn it down and walk away; or does the convenience provide a green light to go eat one? 

Just because I can does not mean I should. When we give in to things like cravings our health pays the toll. If we give in to lifestyles above our means; it will often lead too undesired debt.

Most people that are addicted to a type drug chose to try it for the first time at some point in their life. And a relationship that is toxic will often offer a way out, but for some reason we keep coming back.

True freedom is when we can live without the things that actually control us and not feel anything. When our feelings and mood does not alter as we make the correct decisions that are better for us in the long run for our health or emotional wellbeing. 

Freedom is when we can live perfectly fine without the things that steal our freedom from us. When the desire or need for the things that control us is no longer present, it is then we are actually free. 

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