SET FREE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

October nineteen sixty, I gave my life to Christ, And now in retrospection, I know that deed sufficed. But back then as a teenager, what I did on that day, Was something like a headstrong act with which I had to stay. The problem was my weakness. A thing I couldn’t break. I knew how much I wanted to, but I could not forsake, The grip that it had on me. I tried and tried some more. It didn’t seem to matter. It was too strong a flaw. I knew that I loved Jesus but something wasn’t clear. And after only three short years I said, “Get out of here!” And so for almost twenty years I wandered day by day, Regretting my decision to turn and walk away. The problem was, I knew me. I wanted to return! But knew that deep inside me this thing would always burn. My life was a disaster. I couldn’t get things right. I knew that if I tried to turn I‘d still have the same plight. And then in desperation, because of circumstance, I really couldn’t carry on and had to take a chance. To go back to the Saviour and ask Him to forgive. There wasn’t any other way that I desired to live. Then one night on a Sunday, I visited a place, That pointed out the problem that every person faced. That thing I found impossible, God’s Spirit could put right. The power that I needed was to Let His Spirit fight. I knew the Holy Spirit would help me in my need. That’s when some people prayed for me, and I was filled indeed. I thought that was the answer. The Spirit told me, “No!” But as I walked and talked with Him He’d cause the thing to go. I asked Him if for just one day He’d help me overcome. That’s all the Spirit wanted. His victory was done. I’ve often asked what happened. Why did it take so long, For me to find His power to break this thing so wrong? He never gave an answer. But often He’s implied It always was available. The problem was my pride. I had to beat the problem. I never would succeed. Until I stopped my fighting and let Him do the deed. That’s when I came to realise that one man on his own, Could never change his life himself, regardless of the moan. And as my lips poured out His praise in flowing unknown tongues, His gentleness inspired me to fill my aching lungs, To give Him all the credit for what He’d caused to be, The years that I had wasted were given back to me. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 07 August 2011