To be honest, I came to church a little heavy minded last night. It had been a long month this one, not only busy with markets and shows, but also a bit much mentally. Lately I find myself stressing over things, getting frustrated with people, and just suffocating in thoughts. Mostly made up scenarios of conversations I might have, or past conversations that were negative with lies. However, as I sat in my perch, the eagle’s nest where I control the sound board, my mind was drifting away. I tucked my head down slightly, not that anyone would notice down below, and as the choir sang the first couple of songs, my eyes seemed to focus on the ground.

Then the choir leader turned to my favorite song.

🎶 He Set Me Free

It was as if someone flipped an ‘on’ switch inside. I sat up a little straighter, and my smile started to pull at the corners of my lips. As the music started, I almost felt I wasn’t even there, my soul was lifted up for a moment from the prison of this world. I started to sing along, holding the hymnal in my hands but I knew the words.

He set me free, yes, He set me free
And He broke the bonds of prison for me
I’m glory bound, my Jesus to see
For glory to God, He set me free

Like a prisoner let out on recess in the yard, looking up at the sky. For a moment my soul was free of this carnel body and my eyes looked up to the ceiling of the church. My smile grew wider as I thanked the Lord for that. He knew what I needed in that moment.

Two things today that lead me to this thought of remembrance: one when I was getting coffee for my husband and I coming in today, I watched as a hawk flew high in the sky. I watched for a few good moments. Free. Secondly this evening, my husband had mentioned the song to me, and I told him about last night. And I told him, I think thats my favorite hymn. Because my mind is such a prison for me most days, but He sets me free. Some days I don’t want to get out in the prison yard and see the sun, I want to stay in the cell. Thats where Satan wants me, inside and grey walls surrounding my mind, with plenty of quiet space for him to have fun in. But Glory to God, he breaks down Satan’s walls that try to suffocate me, and He sets me free.

When you feel stuck in the prison of your mind, let Jesus set you free. Let just the tho8ght of His presence start to make Satan tremble. Now that’s one of my favorite thoughts. He can’t stand it when we get close to the Lord. And let your mind start to focus on Jesus and His glory, sing His praise, recall His words in scripture, ‘I will never leave you,’. Ask God to put his hand on your thoughts, and he will help you find that freedom. Even for just a little while, because we are human, and we’ll fall again, but God is always there to catch us.

John 8:36 ‘If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’