As many of you know, I'm an avid reader, or at least I'd like to think that I am. In addition to the book I am currently teaching to the FYM's, "When the Enemy Strikes" by Charles Stanley, and the book I am reading for my personal growth, "The Call" by Os Guinness, I've been reading the book "Incredibly Loud & Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. This is honestly one of the most well written and interesting fictional books I have read in a long, long time and I highly recommend it. While reading of the book by Foer this morning I read the following line:

. . . . I can only hold on to the things I want to lose . . . .

Over the past six weeks or so healing and restoration has been something I've been processing with a close friend. Back in September after explaining a painful relationship to her and telling her that I just can't seem to let go of it she asked me the pointed question, "why do you think that is, Chad?" That question while very basic struck to the core of me and sent me on an inward journey of searching and questioning. The conclusion that I came to was that I had allowed Satan to build a stronghold of lies, bitterness, and even hate within me.

After discovering this stronghold in my life and identifying the specific causes, feelings, and emotions surrounding it, I was able to pray with a new friend at Adventures in Missions. Through this prayer time he helped lead me through I experienced freedom from the bondage I had been in for over 4 years.

You see, I was holding on to something, lies, I so desperately wanted to lose. It had become easier to believe the lies of the evil one than to choose into the truths of Christ. During my experience of release and freedom I spent over an hour in prayer, just pouring out and releasing hurt, pain, tears, bitterness, anger and renouncing the lies I had spent some 4 years believing. My friend then prayed into me truths of God.

It's now been a little over a month since this wonderful experience of freedom. I can't express the joy I feel every day in my heart and the change I've gone through since then. I now live life without this huge weight and burden. I've also had some amazingly sweet times with the Lord as a result of this freedom. He is daily building into me a stronghold of truth, love, and acceptance centered around the truth of God daily saying, "You're my boy, Chad, you're my boy!"

The book of Psalms has been very close to my heart in recent days. On Monday God revealed to me this awesome passage from Psalm 84 that I think really sums up my journey of the past 6 weeks. In Psalm 84:5-7 and 11-12 says:

Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains! They will continue to grow stronger, . . . . For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right. O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.

Though it was painful going through that Valley of Weeping in my life, I now have a refreshing spring of life, love, and joy where pain, bitterness, and hate used to reside. I am now truly happy because I've renounced the lies of Satan and put my full hope and trust in the Lord Almighty.

All glories and honours to the Famous One!

Chaddington