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The verse that stood out to me today was Psalm 32:9, Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. We are to allow God to guide us step by step instead of driving ourselves in a direction that doesn’t give us any options. We should never force ourselves into a place where God’s only alternative is to discipline and punish us into obedience.
Daily Devotion 
I haven’t written for a few days because there has been a constant theme that I have been reflecting on and that is the theme of freedom and liberty. I’ve mentioned this before, but the past few days have been such a poignant example of people desiring slavery and it’s “security” over freedom and faith in God. It is our natural, human condition to desire freedom but simultaneously, there is a fear because there is so much “unknown” that comes with freedom. I notice that anytime the Israelites took their eyes off of God, the fear overcame them, and they cried out for the chains of slavery in Egypt because at least they had a roof and food. They conveniently forgot about the hellacious work conditions and the beatings. All they had on their minds was the security that comes from knowing that you will go home to a warm house and food every night. God called them out of slavery. He made a valiant rescue and proved to them over and over that he is all powerful, and that he truly can be trusted. But they just couldn’t quite grasp that.
How often are we like this? How often do we stay with a job because of the “security” it provides even though we know we are being called to do something else? How often do we just sit in a church pew because it’s comfortable instead of actually going out and doing what we know needs to be done? How often do we vote for people who promise us all sorts of security only to find ourselves trading freedom for a security that no human can provide? Human provided security always comes with strings attached. Always comes with control over another. Always comes with oppression. God provided security comes with true freedom. The strings are attached, yes, but they are attached in the way of complete faith and trust in him. Yes, there is control over us, but only because we have placed our complete faith and trust in the all powerful. And that control is not oppressive. When we take our eyes off of God, we will always look for a place to find that security whether it be in government, a church leader, a cult leader, a boss at work, our parents, our bank accounts etc…You become a slave to whatever it is that you choose to be your “security.”
My personal prayer is that I keep my eyes on ultimate freedom and security.