We have freedom when we receive Christ as our Savior. If you have not asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior or you’re not sure if you have, visit the page called “What about eternity?”
Once we’ve confessed Christ as our Lord, then we learn how to live in the liberty He gave us.
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT).
Jesus said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NLT)
We must know the truth so that we can be free. If we don’t know it, then we can’t be free.
On this page, you will find the foundational steps to walking in the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.
It begins with forgiveness. At the closing of the Lord’s prayer, He stated, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15 NLT)
Forgiveness
First and foremost is forgiving those in our lives who hurt us. Understand that we choose to forgive, regardless of the hurts associated with it. Forgiveness does not condone the wrong behavior of others. It releases us from being connected to them so we can be healed.
Make a list of those who hurt you and the specific hurts. List every name that comes to your mind without reasoning and what hurt you feel when you think of that name. There may be more than one specific hurt related with a name, but keep writing the specific hurts that come to your mind.
Ask for healing of the hurts
Second, we acknowledge that we are emotionally wounded. Emotional wounds are just as real as physical wounds. The good news is that God desires to heal the brokenhearted.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 HCSB).
Some wounds are like a stubbed toe and heal quickly. Other emotional wounds are like broken bones and require time to heal. But healing comes when we ask for it.
We know that we have received emotional healing from the pains others caused us when we remember the offense and the pain associated with the memory is no longer there.
Pray the prayer of forgiveness and ask for healing
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, as an act of my will, I choose to forgive and release _____(name of person)____ for _____(name the specific hurt)__ .
(Repeat for each person and each specific hurt.)
I confess that I have not extended that same patience and kindness toward others who have hurt, wounded, or offended me, but instead I have held unforgiveness in my heart. I ask for forgiveness for holding unforgiveness.
I thank You for the riches of Your kindness, mercy, and patience, knowing that Your kindness has led me to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Lord, I ask You in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit to heal me of all my hurts, wounds, and negative memories. I ask for healing of _____(list all negative memories)____.
Thank You Lord for healing and renewing my mind, emotions, and memories (Rom 12:2). Thank You that Jesus is the One who binds up the brokenhearted and proclaims liberty to the captives (Luke 4:18-21) and by the stripes of Jesus I am healed (1 Peter 2:24). In Jesus name, Amen.
Note: Initially this may seem time consuming and like a lot of work. It is. But I promise the freedom that comes from going through this is worth the effort.
After the initial process, this becomes a way of life. As soon as you feel hurt by someone, release them through forgiveness whether they ask you for it or not. Immediately ask for healing of the hurts and emotional wounds.
Walking in forgiveness and receiving healing for emotional wounds is not a one time event, but a way of life.
Break Word Curses
Words spoken to us or by ourselves that do not line up with the Word of God may be word curses that need to be broken. If not broken in the name of Jesus and the power of His shed blood, they will continue to lead to a destructive life and death.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21 KKJV).
Word curses may enter our lives through words spoken by others. For example:
“You are so stupid. You are never going to amount to anything in life.”
Or we may speak word curses into our own lives. For example:
“I’m so stupid!”
We will reap the fruit of the negative words spoken over our lives if we do not break the power of them.
It’s time to break free from negative words spoken over our lives. As the Holy Spirit brings to your memory negative words spoken over you by others and even your own words, first go through the forgiveness and healing of the hurts prayer. Insert the name of each person (even yourself) and the act in the prayer above. Then come back to this prayer:
Father, I take the authority You have given to me in the name of Jesus to break every negative word curse spoken over me, my family, my home, all my property, my pets, marriage, workplace, place of worship, ministry, health, emotions, business, relationships, emotions, thoughts, and actions. In the name of Jesus, I break the power of every evil word that was knowingly and unknowingly spoken against me by anyone and by my own mouth. I repent for the words I’ve negative words I’ve spoken about myself and others. I cancel the power of the curses spoken to render them powerless and ineffective against me in the name of Jesus. I bind my heart and mind to the blood of Jesus who is my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Deliverer. Thank You that by the blood of Jesus I am redeemed from the curse. Now I proclaim Your blessings over my life. Amen.
Speak the Word of Truth
Now that we have freedom from emotional hurts and wounds, it is important to say what the Word of God says and come in agreement with His Word for our lives.
Here’s a list to start with:
I am forgiven. (1 John 1:9)
God supplies all my needs. (Phil 4:19)
I can do all things through Christ. (Phil 4:13)
I am able. (2 Cor 9:8)
He gives me rest. (Matt 11:28, 30)
God loves me. (John 3:16, John 3:34)
God directs my steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
God did not give me a spirit of fear. (2 Tim 1:7)
I cast my cares on God. (1 Peter 5:7)
God gives me wisdom. (1 Cor 1:30, James 1:5)
God’s grace is sufficient for me. (2 Cor 12:9, Psalm 91:15)
Nothing can separate me from God’s love. (Rom 8:35)
I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power. (Col 2:10)
I am alive with Christ. (Eph 2:5)
I have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16, Phil 2:5)
Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
I have the peace of God that passes all understanding. (Phil 4:7)
I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me. (1 John 5:18)
I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. (Romans 8:37)
I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 5:21)
I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood of the Lamb. (Eph 1:7)
I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty. (Deut 28:15-68, Galatians 3:13)
I am healed by the stripes of Jesus. (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24)
I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. (Col 1:11)
For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)
Remember that God’s word supersedes any other word spoken. We must continue to speak life—God’s word into our lives and the lives of our loved ones.