I want to share something very close to my heart. If you have your Bible, turn it over to Acts 16. If you are new to the Bible, in Acts, Jesus was already hung on the cross, and the church is being built now through Paul.  

While you are flipping there, I want to share our family's number one rule. Growing up, my family had one rule and only one rule. Our number one rule is to have fun. It made us kids perceive that following rules would be easy because there was only one rule. 
I remember we used to go running for sports. This one time, my dad ran behind me, repeating, “Hurry up, don’t fall back, hurry up, don’t fall back”, repeatedly. While this was difficult physically and mentally. I’m so thankful he did that. Now I know I can do difficult things, push past what I thought my boundaries were, and be disciplined.
In the middle of running, it was difficult. It was uncomfortable. I was looking at all the things that made my emotions want to quit. Until I decided to push past momentary discomforts for the hope for a better future for my children. 

Let’s read Acts 16 now. 

Acts 16:16, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

Isn’t that pretty cool? Paul and Silas were in a cold, dark prison, but they didn’t look at that to determine their actions or what they were talking about. The chains fell off not before they praise God. They fell off, “as” they were singing. 

“As” you go about tough situations, remember who’s unlocked the prison doors for you. If you are a believer, if you believe in Jesus, he’s set us free.

Paul even encouraged believers to not put themselves back into bondage.
 
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
 
We must remember that we don’t have to stay in the prison. We need to remember Christ has set us completely free of all addictions, pressures, and heaviness. 
Paul and Silas worshipped God to remember His faithfulness. When we praise God, things will change for you. 
 
Write down something that has been keeping you bound up. Is there something in your life that is keeping you from spending your days feeling free and alive? Write it down. Begin to praise the Lord and allow God to love you.