How can it be?

Earlier tonight I went to Ham's Restaurant to pick up some take out for Bryan and I. When you order take out at Ham's, you have to go to the bar to pick it up. So when I went in to get our food, I had to sit at the bar for about 10 minutes.  It has been a long, long time since I have been out to restaurant late on a Saturday night and it's been even longer since I've been to a bar. 

For those of you who don't know my story, I used to be WILD. Friday and Saturday nights (and sometimes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Mondays) were full of activities that I can't even imagine doing now. The bar was one of my favorite places and I honestly thought that I couldn't have fun without having a few drinks or something else to make me feel "good." I thought it was fun to do whatever we wanted because hey, we were young and living life to the fullest, right? NO. I was so wrong. I thought I was wallowing in my freedom when really I was chained to bottles of alcohol, boxes of cigarettes, and other items that I won't even talk about!

Tonight, as I sat in that bar, waiting on my take out to be ready, I looked around and watched the people. I have to admit it was very, very weird for me to be sitting there, smelling beer and watching these folks acting ridiculous because they were so inhibited. I just couldn't help but pray for them as I sat there and when doing that, I almost shouted in praise! I just can't explain how grateful I was in that moment that I am no longer tied to these purposeless habits and that my life looks so different than it used to.

When I got back into the car there was a song playing on the radio. It's one of my favorites right now. It's called "How can it be?" by Lauren Daigle. As I turned the radio up I heard these words come across my radio....

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be

How can it be

I almost couldn't contain my gratitude as I listened to those words. Jesus has pleaded my cause, he has righted my wrongs, he broke my chains, He overcame! He gave His life to give me mine! He says that I am free! How can it be??? 

With my past and my mistakes, this is huge! It's huge for all of us! Seriously, how can it be? 

When I got home, I closed the car door and was immediately greeted by our "symphony of frogs" and the light beside our front door shining. I thought of my husband sitting inside, my three boys asleep upstairs, my doggies laying at the foot of our bed, and all the joy and love that fills this place. My heart was overwhelmed!

Oh Lord, You have overcome! Oh Lord, You have given me life abundantly! Oh Lord, You have set me free! I am no longer a slave to the substances that made life "fun." I am no longer chained to the relationships that encouraged destructive behaviors. I am no longer blinded. I am healthier in every sense of the word. I am grounded and living with purpose. I am a completely different person. I am SAVED. I am so incredibly grateful!

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17