“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Throughout my life, I noticed a pattern or theme for the need to be set free. Free from faulty confidence; fears; anxiety; depression; expectations; or being consumed by circumstances and tossed around by feelings. I can’t pinpoint what led to such heavy and discouraging emotions, it was a bunch of things, but I can recall the moment I knew my life would change. I was seventeen years old. Seventeen became a profound milestone forever embedded in my heart because it was the year a youth pastor introduced me to Christ. Seventeen marked the year I began to question who I was and what I had been through. I was just a young girl then, with a broken heart, a deep ache that nothing would heal. Life circumstances had been shaping my life and I was living in bondage, needing to be set free.

I wish I could say that a glorious transformation happened overnight, but it would be years and a process of Christ refining my thoughts, behaviors, and life. My life was such a mess that sometimes it seemed I wasn’t changing or growing in the Lord. I had so many issues that kept me stumbling through life. At fifteen years old, I began smoking and drinking heavily that it was a hard habit to let go of. One time, I was driving home with my sister after I had a few drinks and I fell asleep at the wheel. She was there to help save both our lives, and I am so grateful for her. Looking back, I can’t believe I was drinking and driving. I regret almost harming my sister and I am grateful to recognize my need for Christ and move beyond the lifestyle I had been living in my youth.

This past summer I had a chance to dress up like a princess and model with my daughter for a fashion show. My princess outfit was named the Blue Bird that was set free. How fitting, I thought! It was so fun to be dressed up. Hair and makeup edified my outer beauty making me feel special, much like a bride on her wedding day. Hair and make-up for the models took hours to transform us into princesses. I marveled at the other models as I watched some of their looks take on different forms. The transformation results were beautiful, but the process was also so daunting—the waiting and sitting still.  As I reflected on that moment, I realized that the transformation of turning into a true princess and being set free, began when Christ started molding my heart all those years ago. I am still not runway-ready, but God calling me to him and the time in the Lord’s hands continues to transform me from the inside out for his glory.

My relationship with Christ has grown deeper roots and transformed me into something new, with a desire to pursue a life set free and set on a solid foundation I know is only found in Him. Being set free always challenges forgiveness, intention, time, and persistence in knowing God’s word and examining our hearts. The Bible says, that when we know God’s word, His truth not only can set us free, but His word will reveal the truth in situations while renewing our minds. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. (Romans 12:2)

 Like this scripture and many more, the Bible reminds us to be guarded in our hearts and transformed in our minds. This simply means to pause, pray, and pay attention to what you are thinking about and allowing into your life. To choose thoughts and actions wisely, determined to seek God purposefully. Friends, there is so much comfort in God’s love threaded throughout the scriptures. It is the word of God that transformed me, opened my heart to faith, and taught me to be sharpened by the lessons that groomed the very depth of my soul. Looking back, I can see now that it was the challenging times in my life, the uphill climb that built the spiritual muscles I needed to develop a solid faith. God showed himself faithful so I could be set free, and He can do the same for you!

Three things to remember:

1. The struggle is real and takes intention and tenacity to not only hear the word of God but to apply these truths to everyday life. It’s hard but we keep crawling up in His lap and He will renew you.
2. We can lay down our disguises, make-up and sin. Allowing God to shape and mold us for his purpose of becoming true princesses.
3. Transformation is different than behavioral modification because behavioral modification is something we do ourselves and often, we fail at it. True transformation comes from God.

“Yet you, Lord, our father. We are the clay; you are the potter: we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on theses things. (Philippians 4:8)

“Therefore, If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. (2 Timothy 3:16)