All paid for!

Set Free: The Verse That Liberated My Soul

Have you ever felt weighed down by guilt—crippling, relentless guilt? I have. For a long time, I carried the heavy burden of all the things I wished I’d done differently: the missteps, the outright disobedience to God’s voice, the neglected Word, and the stubborn paths I chose instead of His.

Every time I tried to come into God’s presence, guilt would whisper in my ears like a courtroom prosecutor. I felt unworthy. Inadequate. Like I had failed God, failed those around me, and failed myself. I felt chained, convinced I could never repay the debts I’d accrued, never undo the past.

Then one morning, everything changed. I received a deep revelation of Colossians 2:14, and in an instant, a light bulb turned on in my spirit. Freedom entered the room.

New International Version: “Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
New Living Translation: “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
English Standard Version: “By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Every time the devil tries to drag up my past, I stand on this verse. I say boldly, “Not today, Satan. Not anymore.” No more torture. No more spiritual blackmail. Jesus paid for it all.

Jesus Paid the Debt in Full

The Bible doesn’t complicate it. Every single thing that makes us feel inadequate—He has paid for it. There are weights we carry, debts we feel too ashamed to even mention, but Jesus already took them upon Himself. He nailed them to the cross.

What did He nail?

• Every failure.

• Every sin.

• Every accusation.

All of it.

But There’s a Condition: Confess and Repent

Here’s the caveat: freedom begins with confession and repentance. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.”

But it doesn’t end at confession. Acts 3:19 calls us to “repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Repentance seals your freedom. Without it, the enemy finds legal ground to torment you with your past.

The devil doesn’t quit easily. He will keep coming back, but when you grasp the truth of this scripture, you’ll be armed. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

Jesus has paid what I owe.

Justice Satisfied: A Divine Courtroom Exchange

Now here’s the part that took me longer to accept. Let’s talk about the legal demands mentioned in Colossians 2:14.

In any courtroom, when someone is found guilty, a sentence follows. The best-case scenario is to be found not guilty or to be released despite guilt. That’s exactly what Jesus did. He satisfied the legal demand of justice by offering His own life.

We were guilty—but Jesus stepped in and took the punishment. That means we are scot-free in the eyes of heaven. Incredible, right?

You might wonder, “Won’t people take this freedom for granted?” But God, in His justice, already accounted for that.

Paul asks in Romans 6:1-2, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not!”

Galatians 5:13 echoes this: “You have been called to live in freedom... But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

And for those who persist in sin even after knowing the truth, Hebrews 10:26 gives a sobering warning: “If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.”

Stay Free

Paul reminds us again in Galatians 5:1: “Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Friend, Jesus has already paid the price. Don’t let guilt keep you in bondage. Receive your freedom. Walk in it. And guard it.

You are free indeed.

Do you have Faith?

Reflective Questions

• Do I have faith?

• Does a believer have faith?

• Have you ever wished for more faith?

• How do you know if you truly have faith?

• Do I need to be a Pastor to possess faith?

• Isn't mountain-moving faith reserved for a select few?

Allow me to demystify these questions with Scripture as our guide.

If you are a believer, meaning you are born again and have received Jesus into your life, you already possess a measure of faith. Your faith journey began the moment you believed in His existence, as explained in Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists..."

Additionally, Ephesians 2:8 states: "For by grace you have been saved through faith..."

In Romans 12:3, we read: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." This scripture did not mention that it was distributed to some people. Paul was addressing the Christians in Rome.

The NIV translation emphasizes that this measure of faith is distributed to each of you (i.e., believers).

Furthermore

Consider the moment when the disciples were astonished at Jesus' ability to wither the fig tree. Astonished, they asked how this was possible. His response?

"Have faith in God. For truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." — Mark 11:22-24

Remember, the faith that brought you to God is the same type of faith that empowers you to speak to your mountains. It was the same faith in God you had when you became a believer; Jesus did not mention any other type of faith.

You Already Have Faith

You possess this measure of faith. You had faith enough to receive Jesus. You believed in Him, which led you to respond to His call.

You do not ask for what you already have. It would be misguided to do so, to put it bluntly.

Many believers, myself included, have let this faith lie dormant. I was trapped in the belief that I needed to be a Pastor or Minister to activate my faith.

If you think you need someone else—like a Pastor—to pray on your behalf for your prayers to be answered, dear friend, you may still be caught in this false narrative.

While it isn’t wrong to have your Pastor pray for you, it’s imperative to understand that you do not need a third party to access your faith.

Awakening Your Faith

You already have the faith within you. The real challenge lies in learning how to grow and apply that faith in your life’s circumstances. When the light of this revelation connects with your spirit, as it did with mine, you will experience a profound awakening—reviving that faith that has been waiting for you to recognize it.

Coming Up Next

In my next post, we will explore "How to Grow Your Faith."

Stay tuned!

Call to Action:
🌟 What has your experience with faith been like? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

How can I grow my Faith?

The Seed Analogy

Just as I want to grow a tree from a single seed, our journey in faith begins with a small yet powerful seed of the faith we received when we became a believer. (For more on this, please check out my post, "Do you have Faith? Part 2.")

The Bible clearly states in Romans 10:17:
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Meditation on the Word

To grow this seed of faith, the key lies in meditating on the Word of God. It’s really that simple. Meditation is about taking the time to think carefully and deeply about Scripture.

I must admit that many times, after reading a scripture or the verse of the day, I would forget what I read within the hour. This led me to reflect on a natural process that some animals undergo. Cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope chew their cud repeatedly to break down tough plant materials effectively. This process allows them to extract the most nutrients from their food, helping to ward off hunger.

Practical Steps to Meditate

This practical understanding inspired me to develop my meditation practice. Here’s how I do it:

1. Select Your Scriptures: I wrote down several scriptures I deeply wanted to understand that pertained to my circumstance.

2. Break It Down: I dissected each verse into smaller, manageable parts. I explored different versions of the Bible, using the dictionary for clarification where needed. It is amazing that ‘And’ or ‘If’ can make a difference in a verse or adjoining verses.

3. Process It: I put all the different parts together as I allow the Holy Spirit to teach me (John 14:26). He becomes my processor at this point. He sheds more light on it, sometimes taking me to another part of the word. At times, a word will drop in me and I search up on it.

4. Visual Reminders: I placed this scripture/s on my wall, ensuring that I saw and read through it at least five times a day. I remembered the notes and how I had broken the verse into pieces. It has become a part of me, and I no longer use a board now. I used it in my early stages of really grasping what it means to meditate. However, I still place sticky notes on my monitor or write on my notepad at work.

9 out of 10, it clicks! it registers! it makes spiritual sense. Note I said spiritual sense. When I meditate sometimes my physical mind cannot process/comprehend/rationalize what is in the word. The last 1 I reserve for when I get in the way of my understanding. Never the Holy Spirit’s fault.

This approach not only helped me grasp the meanings but also made meditation a significant part of my daily routine.

Signs of Successful Meditation

You’ll know you’ve successfully meditated on a verse when you experience a moment of revelation—a true “aha” moment when the verse clicks within your spirit. Trust me, you will know when. This may happen immediately or could take days of reflection.

Other Ways to Engage with Scripture

Alongside meditation, there are various ways to immerse yourself in God’s Word:

• Read Spiritual Books: Engage with scriptural literature that deepens your understanding and walk with God.

• Listen to Gospel Music: Scriptural music that uplifts your spirit can draw you closer to God’s truths.

• Sermons and Teaching: Listening to preaching provides additional insight into the Scriptures.

The Bible: The Root Source

In my experience, returning to the root source—the Bible—is unmatched. It is pure, sincere, and undiluted. As Paul writes in 1 Peter 2:2:
"Desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow thereby."

A Good Ground for Growth

Returning to our seed analogy, Jesus shared a profound parable about the sower in Matthew 13:3-23. Here, the second step to growing our faith is planting that seed (meditated word) in good ground—essentially, a meek heart that is open and receptive to the Word of God. James 1:21 reinforces this idea, encouraging us to humbly receive the engrafted Word.

When the seed of faith falls on a receptive heart, it can grow into a tremendous tree. As we hear and meditate on the Word of God, our faith—just like that seed—can grow in leaps and bounds.

Conclusion

Growing your faith is a journey that requires intention and dedication. By meditating on God’s Word, engaging with Scripture through various mediums, and cultivating a receptive heart, you can nourish that seed of faith within you.

Call to Action:
🌟 What techniques have you used to grow your faith? Share your experiences in the comments below!