7 days
This is a 7 day series on Discovering Freedom in your life. Read the text, watch the video, and spend time letting this challenging topic penetrate deep into your being.
Oppression
You have probably felt oppression in your life. I have. I have had a really great life and I have experienced it. Oppression can come in two ways; Internal and external. Both are tragic and both can have profound impact. External oppression is normally exerted by an authoritarian regime that tries to impose strict control over people in order to prop up their agendas. North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela are several current examples when considering nation states. You can also have an oppressive work environment or home life. A boss or spouse that creates unattainable expectations or continual moving standards that leave you incomplete and often disparaged. External oppressive forces are always self-serving regardless of the cost to others.
Internal oppression is tricky because it isn’t so overtly clear. Most internal oppression is secret. It can be present in the form of guilt, lack, success, preconceptions, and unmet expectations to name a few. Internal oppression can be subtle and gradual. Subtle in is ability to stay under the surface and keep hidden. Gradual as it can begin in the most sublime ways and amplify with time.
Why am I describing the idea of oppression? I thought this was supposed to be about health?
It is.
Many of you have come to realize that there are both external and internal oppressive forces present in your life that have held you back. I would go so far as to say that some of your maladies, such as pain or sicknesses, are external and have created oppression in your life. Some of you have dealt with these issues since birth! These physical oppressive experiences have limited your ability to walk, sleep, find comfort and have held you back from doing the things you enjoy.
The internal oppression can be more damning. There isn’t a pill, potion, or lotion you can take for it. If you did, you would just be covering up the symptom.
Here is the question, are you under oppression?
Be honest. Be real. Go crazy and write/type a few areas you might feel like you under oppression. I know that physical oppression can be the easiest to list out. Go ahead and do it. Now, go big and write/type out a few areas of internal oppression. Include your past disappointments, failures, or expectations that were imposed on you from others like your parents, teachers, or people you looked up to. Don’t overlook the spiritual oppressions you have experienced in your life.
So here we are at day 1 of these emails. Today is the day of identifying the oppression. The next six day we will cover:
Courage
Declaration
The Battle Part 1
The Battle Part 2
Breaking the Yoke
Establishment
Let’s do this! Let’s find a new freedom in your life.