Today’s Daily Redemption reveals how Jesus doesn’t just forgive our past—He redeems it. He can even change the narrative of your dreams.
Featured Scripture and Commentary
Philippians 3:13–14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Some people get themselves into abusive relationships. You may know someone like this. It is such a tangled web when you are in one of these. All the tricks of the enemy, the accuser, the “father of lies” are in play – blame, shame, regret, guilt and all of the other children of fear. Extricating oneself is not quite so easy as “why don’t you get out?”, “why don’t you leave him/her?”.
How much worse when it is not one individual, but an entire organizational structure with 10’s of 1000s of people across the globe who all drank, not from the Eucharist but, the same pitcher of Kool Aid. And what if you are convinced that they have ownership of your soul? Try breaking out of that. Houdini would have been challenged.
I don’t know anybody like that do you? At least not anymore do I know them. But that was me and my fate from around the age of 20 to 45. Then when I finally could see past or through the veil I was haunted for about 15 years by frequent dreams from and involving with people from that environment from decades earlier. And so, while dramatic, the title of this email is not clickbait. My nights were haunted for about 15 years after severing ties completely with this organization. This organization that claimed that the “Church of Satan” had stolen their stuff – their techniques, whatever. As a member of my organization when I first saw that assertion I was like, “I don’t get it. We don’t worship anybody let alone a red guy with a tail, horns and a pitchfork” but what they did have in common was the desire to be more like God but without worshipping or seeking to relationship with God.
Now you know what the Lord rescued me from and why I love and am thankful to him so much. Just count me grateful.
But the dreams continued until a realization not so long ago at all. I realized that the bastard (accuser, adversary,etc) was right. This was not a lie. I realized there was still a spiritual tether, an open door I hadn’t closed, that allowed the enemy to keep haunting me. Do you have any open doors that allow the entities described by Paul in the Ephesians 6:10 realm to continue tormenting you? I was/am still connected with that organization and I can never be completely free of that unless the organization itself collapses like the 1st and 2nd temples – no stone left standing on any other stone. Somewhere in the organizational structure of that organization there is an administrative position where the job description involves bringing people like me – even with 100% mutual parting of the ways vowing to never return – back into the fold. Of course, it doesn’t help that I signed a 1 billion year contract with them!!! So why am I not condemned, doomed without hope? Same as anybody else – God is sovereign. One contract rendered null and void and a new one backed by the only true Authority. Also, when I realized there was still a connection then it was no longer a mystery. I could see the exact mechanics by which I was still connected. Then rebuking those connections as a new creature in Christ I was able to rise above.
Loosing that also revealed to me another connection which was haunting me which I had thought was a positive in my life. I had realized though that this other individual (a music “idol” whose following is cultic. Someone I had sought at a younger age to emulate in many ways) whom I had already kicked to the curb, in deference to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and true Lord of my Soul, affected my soul through my music and this was the time when I took a brief sabbatical from the worship team. He has been purged never to return. When I look back, his influence was so rough, worldly and dark it was like a tiki torch compared to 1000 super novas of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Now consider this… all that I went through I could have avoided. I had the authority to jettison it all as a new creature in Christ. Maybe if I spent hours per day meditating on Psalm 22 and what the Lord said on the Cross “T’telestai” (“It Is Finished”, “Paid In Full”) but, for me, identifying and purging the connections brought those promises to full fruition and truly changed me – free at last Great God Almighty! FREE AT LAST!
CORROBORATING SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 43:18–19, Romans 8:1, Psalm 127:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 8:12, Lamentations 3:22–23, Matthew 11:28–30, Revelation 21:4
Isaiah 43:18–19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Lamentations 3:22–23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
PRAYER FOR WHOMSOEVERS
Lord, thank You for forgiving my past and redeeming my time. Silence the voice of regret that haunts my days and nights. Replace my nightmares with Your peace. Help me to forget what is behind and press forward into the new thing You are doing. Grant me sweet sleep and a fresh start. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
