I can feel the shackles as they rub on my wrists.
Their weight a constant reminder of my sin.
They swallow my wrists in their iron grasp,
threatening to never let go.
The slavery of sin -
I know it too well.
I've had masters a plenty.
First lying,
then stealing.
Now food and image.
Sometimes love,
sometimes family.
Other times perfection.
It's a constant battle.
It feels like every time I see my shackles,
and recognition is the first step - it's oh so easy to ignore them,
and give them to God,
the moment He unlocks them from my wrists and I am finally,
finally free -
another set, this time heavier,
come crashing down to latch onto my now free wrists.
Oh Lord, Help me!
I plead.
As the cycle continues day in and day out.
I'm too weak to resist temptation.
I'm too weak to know what it means to live without shackles.
I'm no longer a slave to sin, you say?
I'm now a slave to righteousness?
Slavery of any kind does not sound sweet to my ears,
but these shackles - these shackles of righteousness,
they're no burden.
In fact, they lift me up instead of dragging me down.
They guide me on the narrow path,
the lead me in the correct direction.
But even now,
with my new weight-free shackles,
I struggle with old ones.
Ones that come creeping back.
Shackles that the tempter places on me,
to drag me off the narrow path,
and onto the wide path that leads to destruction.
His constant taunting leaves me weak.
Reminding me of my inner sin-nature.
Bringing out my worst,
making me believe it's my best.
The darkness in this tunnel envelopes me for the moment,
But I know that Joy comes in the morning.
Joy through mourning.
His Mercies are New everyday,
and when I am weak, He is strong.
Even in my weakness,
and believe me - my eyes have been opened to how weak I truly am,
He carries me.
When I can no longer walk.
He picks me up in His arms and soothes me,
saying "It's going to be all right."
And I will make it.
No matter how hard it gets.
No matter how heavy the shackles.
God has the key.
Just remember:
In the end - God Wins.
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