Living Life by Design

My wife and I met on a blind date. I was heavily involved with my church and wanted to be a pastor. I was also the lead singer in a Christian heavy metal band. The only reason I went on the date was to appease my friends mom. She was relentless.

Upon meeting Ms. Janet Dawn Williams, my life turned upside down. I was instantly in love. After three months of dating, I told my band mates and our manager that I was going to ask her to marry me. They all told me if I did that, it would be the end of the band and I would lose my freedom. They all thought it was a huge mistake. If fact, there were bets taken that our marriage wouldn’t last over a year. That was 38 years ago. My wife and I have 3 children, 6 grandchildren and a life that’s full of love and fulfillment.

Most people don’t associate marriage with freedom. The same can be said for becoming a Christian. It’s interesting, the last thing most people associate with faith is love and freedom. Non-believers feel that God would want them to follow unrealistic rules and to stop doing all the things that are fun, and enjoyable. Exactly what my band mates felt I would be doing. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. Love, faith and freedom are inextricably entwined.

Today, ask God to reveal to you more and more his unfailing love, as the psalmist did Psalm 119:41. Then respond in love (vv.47–48), trust, hope and obedience (vv.42–44). Seek God’s ways through the Bible, and you will discover true freedom and be able to say, ‘I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom’ (v.45). 

The formula for real love, acceptance and freedom is as easy as 1 + 1 = 2. No math degree needed. God + You = True Happiness.