You won’t want to miss this episode of the Drink from the River of Delight podcast with Robert Cale! Have you ever felt enslaved or oppressed? Robert and I discuss the common things that can take us captive: people pleasing, substances, false narratives, comfort, or our own pride. When we are enslaved or oppressed, we can’t dig ourselves out of it. We can’t fix the problem without outside help. We don’t need to fall into hopelessness, think we are a victim, or believe a lie that God doesn’t care. Today’s episode is all about the freedom that God has for us, and how we live in that reality—not just knowing about freedom but actually experiencing it. God will give us that experience of His love and freedom when our allegiance is fully His, to the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. Putting both feet in the boat with Jesus is possible: come in meekness ready to receive His Word, come in desperate need of Him as your only hope, come in anticipation of His love and goodness. Trust God with everything! Don’t put any conditions on your obedience to God. Practical ways to live faith: read your Bible daily, pray honestly and constantly, and live in community with other believers through discipleship, accountability, and service in the Body of Christ. Embodied faith, or faith that is fully integrated into every aspect of your life, is God’s will for your life. We discussed how learning to lament can help bring the truths we know about God into our experience of Him in our heart. Read the prayer below, making it your own. Our prayer is to experience God as our loving Father through Jesus’ mighty work on the cross. Read more from Robert Cale and the book of James. We referenced Mark Vroegop’s book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. Are you looking for someone to walk with you on your spiritual journey? I would love to welcome you into God’s healing space in His Word during a one hour session on Zoom. Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name. Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV) -Isaiah 63:15–Isaiah 64:4 Thanks for reading Drink from the River of Delight! This post is public so feel free to share it. Drink from the River of Delight is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe
