Take a look at John 8:31–32. In this passage Jesus promises, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
What is Jesus offering us freedom from in this passage? The first and most important thing that God's Word can free us from is slavery to sin.
But God's truth also has the power to free us from bondage. Bondage is the natural result of believing lies, and it is definitely something we need freedom from.
Nancy and Dannah put it this way:
"We believe the vast majority of Christian young women (and not-so-young women, for that matter!) are suffering the consequences of believing lies. Those consequences include broken relationships, fear, depression, and guilt, to name a few.
"The results of believing a lie can be as vast as the kinds of lies there are to believe, but if there is one word that sums up the result of believing any lie it would be ‘bondage.' The dictionary defines bondage as ‘slavery ... the state of being bound by some external power ... the state of being under the control of a force or influence.' In other words, when you believe a lie, that lie can begin to control areas of your life" (Lies Young Women Believe, 12).
Lies have consequences and those consequences are huge! Bondage in any area of our lives is dangerous. What's more, freedom is readily available through God's Word.
Knowing that believing lies inevitably leads to bondage should motivate us to be serious about uprooting lies in our own lives and in the lives of others.
In what areas of your life do you need freedom? Are you stuck wrestling with hopelessness or depression? Are your relationships toxic? Are there areas of your life that you can't stop thinking about, such as boys, food, or your appearance? Do your emotions feel out of control? Are there harmful habits like cutting or sexual activity that you are unwilling or feel unable to break? These are the symptoms of bondage, and they are all rooted in lies that are contrary to God's truth.
Use this knowledge about what bondage is to identify lies and replace them with God's truth. Will it be hard work? You betcha! Will there be times when bondage feels easier and more comfortable? Sure. But what does God promise us in exchange for the work? Sweet freedom.
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
