JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN!

Over the years, the Lord has delivered me from sin, the penalty and bondage of it, including from various bad habits. He set me free from all kinds of things such as from smoking cigarettes to frivolously spending money. And lately, He has helped me even more.

Not everyone is born into a Christian home where Jesus is Lord. And while I come from a very hard working and tenacious background, I learned many things that the Lord has had to help me with and show me new ways. We know that when we become born-again, all things are new. This is meant spiritually. In the physical, if we weighed 300 pounds, we are born-again but still weigh 300 pounds. And the habits we had, become affected by the new born-again spirit but we still have to be renewed and transformed in our minds according to God's Word.

• Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And in this life-long process, Jesus gave me a key to help! I was reading my favorite “rapture chapters” Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 again and while in Luke 21 and meditating on the Lord's words, He said something amazing in verse 19.

• Luke 21:19 “By your patience possess your souls.”

Patience for me has been a life-long challenge. While I have been delivered from swearing for many years, patience is something that I have struggled with. And there were these words of Jesus jumping off the page to me, “By your patience possess your souls.”

Wow. And along with it, seemed to come the realization that not only will this key take us through the tribulation that Jesus was warning about, but also to help us daily.

I knew all to well that when we lose our cool, that it is when it is the hardest to not judge or criticize or slip to use swear words. And I was always seeking to “praise the Lord at all times.” Somehow, suddenly, a realization was sinking into my heart that when we lose our patience, we not only can lose our souls in the long run, but also in the immediate when we disappoint the Lord who is trying to lead and direct us. And that, praise God, when we keep our patience, we really do possess our souls! From studying the Bible over the years, I knew that “souls” does not always necessarily mean “spirits” but can often mean our “minds.” And in this case, in keeping our patience, we can keep it both!

• Ephesians 4:20-24 But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Naturally, this revelation was the beginning of the journey. My personal testimony is found under the testimonies and encouragement section as “Jesus Set Me Free... Again” and also an article called, "By Your Patience Possess Your Souls” co-written together by C. Pușcaș and myself. We also have a very helpful and insightful message called: "Renewing the Mind.”

If patience and keeping your cool has been a challenge too, please consider one or more of the articles. The Holy Spirit in teaching and shedding His light on this matter, truly helped our “paradigms” and not only are we are not the same but strength and joy have come from it.

The Lord bless and keep you in 2017 and always,


E. Cockrell