Welcome to womens online bible study as we study Breaking Free by Beth Moore. This week we learned how God desires to change us from the inside out, renewing our minds and mending our broken hearts. He wants us free from the strongholds weighing us down. It’s time to release self-destructive thoughts, behaviors, and relationships and embrace a heart centered on Christ.

When did you give a true impression of whom you are by acting as if you belonged to God? For me, this happened by being authentic and not a people-pleasing perfectionist. I learned to let go of childhood labels and identities and allowed myself freedom from shame.

Beth Moore writes, “Any time we attach ourselves or seek safety in a fraudulent savior we have to depend on lies to support the habit.” In small groups, we identified the fraudulent saviors as people, careers, relationships, volunteerism, food, addictions, and false identities/labels. Even religion can be a false savior, as Dotsi pointed out in our Zoom group this week. Some religions elevate a person’s worth based on work and deeds. That contradicts the Bible which places our identity in Christ, not religion.

As we learned this week, w can experience freedom in one part of our lives while still in bondage to another. For example, we can have freedom over one sin (such as gossip) and still struggle with others (such as jealousy). Spiritual bondage can be difficult to detect as the layers get deeper- such as bondage to fear or insecurity.

Christian obedience includes following the Bible, reading the Bible, and living the Bible. Jesus is our primary motivation for pursuing an obedient life. We are obedient through love and respect. Our desire is for a lack of conflict. Obedience is sometimes motivated by the fear of consequences. The Holy Spirit will guide us and counsel us towards obedience, never s

We are blessed by obedience. Beth Moore identifies the 6 symptoms of broken pottery

• A rebellious child of God doesn’t act like a child of God
• A rebellious child of God isn’t willing to look to the Lord’s instruction
• A rebellious child of God prefers pleasant illusions over Truth
• A rebellious child of God relies on oppression
• A rebellious child of God depends on deceit
• A rebellious child of God runs from the real answers

The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51:3 NIV

As Christians, we are on a pilgrimage to Heaven and just passing through earth. It is a season of moving forward, holy and sacred.

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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.