Freedom. We are always talking about it, believing it is our natural right, taking it for granted, not really worrying about it being taken away from us. America—the land of the free—believing that the rest of the world wants (or should want) the same.

Freedom. Christians—free in Jesus Christ—from sin, death, and lives devastated by the enemy. We are always talking about it, believing it is our natural right, taking it for granted, never really worrying about it being taken away from us. But recently I realized some of the freedoms God has given me, and I have felt such a huge load lifted from me!

Somehow in my formative Christian years, I learned that Christianity was pretty serious business and that everything I put my hand to should be for the furtherance of the Kingdom. There were gifts that were so apparent in me through my teen and early adult years, but somehow I got the unspoken message that to step into any type of limelight—even a dim flashlight—would bring honor to myself and not to God.

Back in the 60’ before it was fashionable, I used to compose music on my guitar and sing the Psalms. I taught myself to play the guitar and loved trying new chords and songs on it. I used to write poetry—and sell it to Christian teen magazines for money! I wanted to be a journalist someday. In high school, I began to learn needlework in Home Economics and still today enjoy various aspects of it. It just never ceases to fascinate me how easy it is to take some string or yarn and make something beautiful!

But somewhere, sometime I got the message that all of those things were a waste of time. Maybe it was because being raised on a farm (from age 10), there was always work to do. There were always chores, and if I wasn’t needed there, there was plenty to do in the house. Ironing Dad’s work shirts for the woods (he was a logger), folding clothes for the 11 of us, or any one of a myriad of other things that needed to be done.

Then in my early adult and parenting years, I always felt guilty for taking the time to indulge in music or needlework or writing. I loved it but believed it was more virtuous to keep a clean house, well-behaved children, and be the faithful employee. I used to honestly worry that others would think I was lazy if I took a nap! Especially I didn’t want my folks to know about taking a nap, I was afraid of what they would think.

Now I have begun to learn that it’s OK to enjoy being me—all of me! It’s OK to let others know that I am a certified color analyst, that I type 110 wpm, that yes, I am extremely knowledgeable about Miss Piggy. And yes, after 29 years of raising children, I might—just might—have something to contribute! Guess I won’t be so shocked the next time someone asks me for advice. And yes, I do know a bit about God’s Word, after all, I won the Sword Drill at Bible camp and have studied it for alot of years. In addition, my husband doesn’t think I am lazy and I do get a nap once in a while on the weekends!

Recently I was studying the Word and found this Scripture. The part that really hooked me was, "He will take great delight in you." Have you ever taken great delight in something or someone? Think about that for a moment. What does it mean? Some of the words used to describe "delight" are: pleasure, enjoyment, glee, revel in, relish, savor, bask in, amusement, appreciate, please, charm, amuse, thrill, gratify, make happy, enchant.

Now, visualize God feeling those things about YOU. Yes, YOU. YOU are His child. He created you for His pleasure, for His enjoyment, for Him to appreciate and savor and relish YOU. He gave you skills and abilities, even the ones you hide away and don’t share because you think you can’t or don’t do them well. Perhaps you think that others will make fun of you or you can’t do them like someone else.

Picture God in heaven, looking down on earth. He nudges His Son and says, "Look, look at my child. See her drawing? Look at how she is enjoying that. I gave it to her for just that purpose!" Or He says, "Do you see him? Do you see what he’s doing? He’s fixing that old car. See the paint job. Isn’t it shiny? Boy, remember him doing the bodywork? I gave him the skills to do that! And look at how he is using that! Oh and look, now he’s helping his neighbor too!" Can’t you just envision God rubbing His Hands together in glee? This is what He made us for, to fully use the aptitudes and abilities He planned for us even before the beginning of the world.

So I learned about true freedom while reading with my husband. Freedom in God by the blood of Jesus Christ to truly be all that God created me to be. It took an enormous load of guilt off my shoulders and I genuinely look forward to that time of day when I can pickup my cross stitch or crochet and begin the work on it while praying for the person for whom it is intended.

We can fully exercise our freedoms in God by giving Him the very best and by enjoying the gifts that He gives to us individually. What are the things you enjoy doing? What are the skills or traits that you haven’t told anyone about? Are you enjoying them fully for God? Are you giving Him true enjoyment with your pleasure in the interests He has placed in you? There is no guilt in these things, only great pleasure and great freedom.

Celebrate!

Copyright by Desiree L.M. Pheister

Desirée L.M. Pheister is a wife, mother, and grandmother. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, needlework and looking for ways to bless others. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com