Songs of Deliverance

I accidentally went to Canada yesterday. Canada is a beautiful country that I would love to return to another day. However, it was not my intended destination for that day. How did I find myself in another country accidentally, you may ask? My GPS told me to turn at the light. I turned at the light and found myself on a road that I did not want to be on. There were no signs of warning; there were no exits off; there were no turn arounds. Once you turn into the duty-free area, you must cross the bridge into Canada. There are no exceptions. I was going to Canada whether I wanted to or not. My appointment at the customs office was set for 10:45. It was now 10:35, and I was in the wrong country.

Thankfully, there was a friendly attendant collecting the toll to enter the country. He listened to my plight, walked out of his kiosk, and pointed toward the sign indicating a turn around. He warned me that if I missed that turnaround, it would be much more difficult to get back. I heeded his warning. However, there was a long line of cars in the lane I needed to be in to get back to the US, and there were no openings where I turned around. So I went to a lane that I knew I did not belong in. The customs officer listened to my pitiful story and had major mercy on me. He could have sent me back to my proper lane. It should have cost me $4 to re-enter. I should have had to wait at least 20 minutes to get back in. I should have missed my appointment, but the guard’s kindness delivered me from what I deserved.

That deliverance was minor compared to what Jesus has delivered me from. The gracious words that proceeded from His mouth quoting Isaiah 61 spell it out perfectly.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus had good news for this poor, insignificant wretch. The Great Physician brought healing for my heart broken by sin and shame and sorrow. His power destroyed the chains that held me bound. His light broke through the darkness that blinded me from hope. He freed me from the bruising grip of the old master. Jesus made the way to Heaven possible before I even knew that I would need deliverance. Jesus is my song of deliverance.

It is easy to get frustrated, discouraged, and even downright angry at all that is going on in the world around me. When I had to fill up my gas tank yesterday, praise was certainly not the first thing that came to mind. But that gas tank is temporary. The struggles of this world will not follow me to eternity. Those who belong to Him have been delivered.

This song of deliverance helps to keep our hearts focused on sharing His freedom with others who may need to know that there is a turnaround. His grace for us should fuel our grace for others. Do not let that difficult person derail your song. Sing back the chorus of deliverance that was introduced to you. Do not let those blinded by sin dim your light. Light shines most brightly in darkness. Do not let fear hold back the freedom Jesus offers to those still held captive. Satan is a liar who uses fear as his silencer.

Have a beautiful day full of His songs, my friends!

Erica B.