Devotion
Freedom
in Faith
By
Marita Littauer
Guest Columnist
CBN.com
– With summer upon us, I feel a wonderful freedom -- I kick off my shoes
and wiggle my toes, I put the top down on my car and let my hair blow as I revel
in the sunshine. Isn't it great to be out from under the encumbrances of winter?
Sometimes our religion can make us feel more
like we do in winter, bound up in rules and regulations. But that is not how God
designed it to be. We can feel free in our faith, shedding the binding clothing
of outmoded traditions and focus on the core issues of a relationship with Christ.
It doesn't truly matter if we attend church on
Saturday, Saturday night, as I do, or on Sunday, as long as we strengthen our
faith through Bible reading and fellowship as addressed in Hebrews 10:25, "Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another" (NIV). As a woman, I have
often felt guilty when I do not measure up to a certain set of "norms" I thought
were expected of me. How freeing it has been for me to do a study of Scripture
and see that these standards are tradition, not salvation; religion, not relationship.
I can keep my maiden name professionally, I can have a career, I can be a mom
-- or not. As long as my husband and I are in agreement on these issues, I have
that freedom! In God's Word, Romans 7:6 says,
"But now that we're out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine
print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God" (The Message).
If you have felt that religion is restraining you, I encourage you to do a study
of God's Word this summer. Question the regulations and fine print that you find
oppressive. Find out what faith is really all about. You'll discover a new life
in the freedom of God! You'll discover that the "church lady" doesn't live here
anymore! Wiggle your toes, let your hair blow,
bask in the freedom! Read
an excerpt from Marita's book, Love Extravagantly: Making the Modern Marriage
Work Read Chuck
Noon's article, Looking For Better Opportunities Order
your copy of Love Extravagantly: Making the Modern Marriage Work More
from Marita Littauer Used by permission. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
 Marita
Littauer is a professional speaker with over twenty years of experience. She is
the author of ten books including Love
Extravagantly:Making the Modern Marriage Work, and You've
Got What It Takes. She is the president of CLASServices
Inc., an organization that provides resources, training, and promotion for
speakers and authors.
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