Visit www.saralivingfree.com to discover how to find true freedom in your life.

You may feel like an ugly mess, but you’re not. You’re beautiful. You’re a beautiful mess searching for freedom.

Let me introduce you to the One who offers you hope, freedom, and abundant Life.

My Testimony of Freedom

I grew up in a loving home with siblings who cared about me and parents who loved me. I knew God and chose to be baptized at age 16.

Rebellion

Although I knew right from wrong, by the time I reached 20, my life was steeped in alcohol, parties, immorality, and selfishness.

I hardly knew what I wanted. One day, I got drunk at a bar, and the next day, I attended church with my parents. I knew the Truth and wanted to be near the Light; but when night came, temptation rose, and I willingly entered darkness once again.

Losing Myself

With each year that passed, I lost more and more of who I was.

The more I indulged in sin, the less I resembled the person God made me to be. Eventually, I couldn’t find “me” anymore.

A Loving God

While I was sinning, God wooed me. I mostly resisted his advances; but he was persistent, unwilling to let me go without a fight.

Progress was slow. God was patient.

I got married and soon gave birth to my first child. I realized that my child would be looking to me for answers and guidance. Suddenly, my dual lifestyle wasn’t an option anymore.

I finally made a definite decision. I picked sides. I chose Light.

Returning to God

I wanted God. I wanted to be all His. And I wanted my (future) children to know him, too.

At the time, I didn’t realize that choosing to surrender my life to God was the start of a journey to freedom to be my whole self.

Choosing to surrender your life to God is the start of your journey to freedom to be your whole self.
Tweet

A beautiful spiritual growth process began: I read God’s word, prayed, studied, and grew to love God in a way I never had before.

The previous years of rebellion, however, were not without consequences.

Freedom Journey

Pieces of me had been lost in my rebellion and needed to be recovered. There were also wounds that needed healing, attitudes that needed changing, and desires that needed to align with God’s Word.

Recovering, healing, changing, and aligning have happened over a journey of many years. And it’s still happening!

SARA, LIVING FREE is my testimony (and running account) of God’s work in my life. I share true stories and insights I’ve gained over the years that will encourage you on your own journey to freedom.

Jesus Christ is Your Hope, Freedom, and Life

The only way to free in this life is to seek the One who made you, and that’s God.

Only God knows how to set you free — free from sin, free from the past, free to be the whole you, free from bondage.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

God is ONE God, in three Persons:

God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19 NLT

Together they are One, just as your body, mind, and spirit make up one YOU.

How Jesus Set You Free

Jesus Christ, the perfect and sinless Son of God, took human form and lived on earth.

“So the Word” [Jesus] “became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
John 1:14 NLT

Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of mankind, “[f]or everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT).

He chose to pay for our sins through his own death so that we would not have to perish forever.

“For the wages of sin is death…”
Romans 6:23 NLT

But Jesus didn’t stay dead. Because Jesus was sinless, death could not hold him.

“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”
Acts 2:24

Resurrected, Jesus Christ appeared – fully alive – to many who knew him and then to “…more than 500 of his followers at one time…” (1 Corinthians 15:6 NLT) before he ascended into heaven and returned to the Father.

Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father, with all authority and power and glory.

“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.”
Luke 22:69 NLT

Yet, Jesus does not leave us alone on earth. Jesus Christ asked the Father and the Father sent us a Helper — the Holy Spirit, to live inside of us, to teach, to guide, to empower and to comfort all those who will give their hearts to the Son of God.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:26 NLT

Why You Need Jesus’s Holy Spirit

If Jesus already freed us from sin and death, if he’s already forgiven us, then why do we still need a Helper (Jesus’s Holy Spirit) while we’re on Earth?

Because we have an enemy.

Satan is a thief who’s “purpose is to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10a NLT) Satan wants nothing more that to drag our lives down with him into the pit of death and hopelessness and destruction.

On the other hand, Jesus Christ’s “…purpose is to give them” [you and me] “a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10b NLT).

This is why Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit to help us fight the enemy (Satan), to help us find freedom while we live on the Earth, and to help us love and obey God.

How You Can Receive the Satisfying and Freeing Life Jesus Promises

The only way to find abundant life is through Jesus Christ, who is Lord and Savior to all who will trust him, day by day.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 NLT

To be saved, you must become a follower of Jesus by surrendering your life to him as Savior and Master. This makes you a child of God.

Then, you will live a new life as the Holy Spirit fills you and helps you to leave your old, sinful life behind.

Do You Want to Become God’s Child and Follow Jesus?

Would you like to receive Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, as your own Savior and Master?

Would you like to invite his Holy Spirit to give you a new heart, new life, new guidance, new joy, and new purpose?

Would you like to become a child of the living God – God the Father?

If yes, then pray!

The words you pray are not as important as what you believe in your heart.

If you’d like to, pray the following prayer. Then afterward, tell God what is on your heart in your own words:

Prayer to Become God’s Child

Dear Father God,

I know that I have sinned against you.

I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, paid for my sins on the cross and was raised to life so that I could receive eternal life, too.

Please forgive me for all of my sins and help me to live for you.

Father God, I was made by you to be with you. I want to give myself back to you today, where I belong.

Jesus Christ, I trust you as my Savior, and the Lord and Master of my life, from today on.

Jesus, I invite your Holy Spirit to come fill me and renew my heart.

I ask all of this through the power of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Your Freedom Journey

Jesus promises us a “rich and satisfying” life.

The world tells us that “rich and satisfying” equals money and pleasure. But that’s a lie.

Jesus promises us abundant life, which is abundant because it’s freeing and rich in eternal purposes. This life that he offers us is the only way to be fully satisfied.

True Freedom is Counter-Cultural

The world says freedom is doing whatever you want. But that’s a lie.

True freedom is surrendering yourself to the One who made you.

Your new life in Christ will continually surprise you. It will bring you joy and freedom as you continue to trust in Jesus every day.

Yet, we still live in a world where evil wreaks havoc, don’t we? There will be people who want to hurt you simply because you follow Jesus. Because of this, Jesus tells us to find our peace, joy, and strength in him alone:

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT

You’re Never Alone

Jesus knows that following him will often be hard, which is why he provides us with support.

If you prayed the prayer above sincerely, you are now a child of God, and you’ve received support in the form of Jesus’s Holy Spirit living in you.

In addition to the support of the Holy Spirit, you also have a new family! God’s family – all those people around the world who also trust in Jesus Christ – is intended to take care of, encourage, and pray for each other.

For more information and support on your freedom journey, here are three excellent resources to grow in God’s love, faith, and the hope of freedom: