Final payment

I'm one payment away from paying off my 2003 van. I was 18 the last time I wasn't making payments on a vehicle and I have never actually paid one off. My first car I purchased for $175 dollars and it was barely worth it. I don't even remember the make or model but I do know it was a light blue color, had four doors, needed a screwdriver in order to open the trunk and sucked oil as if it was free. Still, I loved that car because it birthed my first sense of freedom. No longer did I need mom's permission to take the car somewhere. I had wheels and I was mobile! I loved my life then even though I was dead broke, had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life and honestly could only see to the next date with my then steady boyfriend, Michael (now my husband of 20 years).

Little did I know that 22 years later I would be looking at freedom in a whole new light. My final payment reminds me so much of the lasting payment Christ made for me and the true freedom I have as a result. The freedom to let go of those things I clung to in the dark realizing how giving them over to Christ is so much more rewarding. Freedom to sing for joy regardless of who might be listening because my burden is light and my sins have truly been forgiven. Freedom to share the love of Christ because I understand how incredible it is that He first loved me. Freedom to be all He created me to be knowing He created me uniquely.

How about you? Do you need to experience freedom in your own life? Do you understand the gift of Christ's payment? Let your reaching out to God's gift of freedom be the first step towards attaining your New Year resolutions.