Nancy Hughes devotion: The chain breaker

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”
Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV)

It’s not a sight that you see every day – people in identical orange short-sleeved coveralls shuffling along the sidewalk – but you see it in my town. They make their way from the jail to the courthouse and then back to the jail periodically.

Their pace is painfully slow. Chains and shackles keep them from moving any faster. Their heads are down as they struggle to make sure they are not stepping on the person in front and at the same time not getting stepped on by the person walking behind them.

Watching this procession, you cannot help but wonder why each one been arrested and detained. But you also find yourself wondering how it must feel to take every step chained and shackled.

No freedom to dance or jump or even turn. But rather, every movement held in place by metal links locked together to restrain the person wearing them.

And then I look at my life. No orange coveralls. Nothing on my arms and legs restricting me. And yet I too find myself in chains.

Can I name a few? Fear, anger, envy, loneliness, depression, greed, infidelity, jealousy, resentment, addictions, worry, unforgiveness. That’s the short list. Need I go on?

We have all experienced at least one of those “chains.” They can rob us of our ability to function daily because they steal our joy and, if we are not careful, consume our every thought and action to the point that our very faith and trust in the Lord is crippled!

Today’s Scripture speaks directly to breaking those “chains.” We cannot do it on our own. Psalm 107:13-14 says “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”

Are “chains” holding you tightly and robbing you of joy and hope and peace? Every single one can be broken to pieces by giving them to Jesus, the only true Chain-breaker!

I encourage you to talk with a prayer warrior friend, a counselor or minister and share what “chains” are wrapped around your heart and holding you hostage. Then go before the Lord and ask Him to free you from each one and replace them with mercy and forgiveness and love.

Today, this very minute, trust the Chain-breaker to do what He says He will do.

Father, there are chains in my life that are keeping me in darkness. Please take them from my heart and replace them with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up

Reflect

· What “chains” in your life are keeping you from experiencing joy, peace and mercy from the Lord?

Application

· Journal every “chain” in your life – past and present – that is holding you prisoner.
· Meet the Lord face to face during your prayer time and hand over each “chain” to Him.
· Thank Him for freeing you and replacing each one with His love, mercy and forgiveness.

Power Verses

· Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV) “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”

· Psalm 116:16 (NIV) “O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”

· Matthew 4:24 (NIV) “News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, and those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.”

· I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

· John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)

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Nancy Hughes' latest children's book is available now and can purchased at the link below.