When You Want to Break Every Chain
How are things going with [insert name of my tough cookie here]? she asked.
“The same,” I responded. Nothing has changed. Her spiritual eyes are still darkened. She is seemingly deaf to the voice of the Lord. Her pace is steadily progressing on the road to destruction with no U-turn in view.
So, I sit in my office and cry out to the One who came to set captives free.
And He tenderly reminds me:
My love breaks every chain.
So I ask Him for an extra measure of His love to fill me up so that it overflows and opens up her sin-scarred heart to salvation.
How to Hear the Chains Fall:
- Forgive: Offer grace, not judgment. (Colossians 3:13; Romans 8:1)
- Pray: Get on your knees and put on your armor. Prayer is your only battleground. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
- Encourage: A kind word can soften a hard heart. (Hebrews 3:12-14; Isaiah 50:4; Colossians 2:2)
- Serve: Wash the feet of the captive. They might not even know they are covered in grime. (Matthew 7:12)
- Welcome: Jesus invited others in. He was a friend of sinners. (Romans 15:7; Luke 4:18)
Love paves the road to freedom, and my job is to keep laying down the asphalt.
ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
Such good truth, Lyli. I agree with you for breakthrough in this loved one.
Thank you, my prayer warrior friend. xo
Good encouragement to continue praying even when we don’t see evidence of change. God is a god of the “exceedingly abundant, more than we can ask or imagine”. Praying for your friend, Lyli, and us, too.
Thank you, Kristi! Love that sweet promise in Eph 3:20. Thank you for bringing it to mind today. xo
Prayer is your only battleground!! This, Lyli, is the thought that may just hijack my day.
Love this. Thank you!
Love,
Dawn
I love your heart, friend! and your practical advice and God-centered truths! I have a few “tough-cookies” myself – thank you for this reminder this morning. Have a blessed day!
Thank you, June! Let’s keep praying for our cookies to crumble. 🙂
I love how you invited us to hear the chains fall. I could almost hear them hit the ground. Oh, the freedom He gives. Blessings!!
Deb, I must confess that I “borrowed” that line from a song lyric. The song is titled “Break Every Chain” by a group called Jesus Culture.
Yet another week of great wisdom from you, Lyli! This is one I will have to write down and review again and again. When I see people going in a wrong direction, my first instinct is pray and then I want to convince them of the way they should be going. I want to teach. Not exactly what they need, right? I loved these tips, especially the one to serve them. Thanks for sharing this with us today!
You aren’t the only one. I want to pull them in the right direction, but it never works. Only God changes hard hearts.
i’m praying the same for a loved one. i don’t see any progress but that’s not my responsibility, as you said so beautifully, mine is to love and serve and welcome and pour asphalt (not my best area – pouring asphalt – but God enables.) thanks for hosting.
ps will you be at she speaks in July? just checking!
Sue, I will be there in spirit. Can’t wait to hear about it from you. 🙂
I’ve got the song “Break Every Chain” playing in my head now, which is a good thing. 🙂 Your tips are all very good. Forgiveness is one that is coming to my mind as a critical one that I often see lacking…
As you can guess, that song plus “This Love” by Housefires inspired this post. They’ve both encouraged my heart quite a bit lately.
Discord is a tool of the enemy, and forgiveness is the only cure. I keep telling myself that over and over when I feel animosity rising up in my heart. It’s something I pray about daily these days.
Lyli, there’s nothing like gospel truth to meet the need — whatever it is. Thanks for saying this so well today!
Aw, Michelle! Your comment reminds me of one of my favorite verses — from John 8 — “You shall know that Truth, and the Truth shall set you free.” Hallelujah! 🙂
Chains. Yes, I’ve worn them a lot in my lifetime. Lately I’ve felt entrapped by fear, and overcome with negative feelings about a situation. You’ve said exactly what it feels like – being in chains. I, too, turn to the One who sets prisoners free. For I do NOT want the enemy of my soul to gain any ground in my heart. And though he may throw me in those chains, he is not the one who holds the key to freedom…
Great word today, Lyli – very timely for me.
GOD BLESS!
Amen, Sharon. Let’s not put on the yoke of slavery every again! He sets captives free, and I am living proof of that.
Lyli,
Praying breakthrough for your loved one…may God open his or her heart wide open for the love of God to pour through…love this line: “Love paves the road to freedom, and my job is to keep laying down the asphalt. ” Keep up the great work, my friend…it is hard and holy work you’re doing…((hugs))
Thank you for praying, Dolly. It means so much to us Dunbars! 🙂
P.S. LOVELY new photo of you …Gorgeous!
Thank you, Dolly! You are such an encourager. xo
Just got here this morning & am so glad I did. This is truth >> “Love paves the road to freedom, and my job is to keep laying down the asphalt.”
Lyli, I have someone in my life I’m praying for. I love your suggestions for helping to break the chains. They are very important and really do help. God can break any chain and we need to continue to trust, to pray and to be available showing love. Blessings to you!