Chains of Oppression

 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
   prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands
   and despised the plans of the Most High.  So he subjected them to bitter labor;
   they stumbled, and there was no one to help.  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he saved them from their distress.  He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
   and broke away their chains. Psalm 107:10-14 

 As I read about “prisoners in iron chains”, I thought about chain gangs that were chained to each other in iron shackles, and they were required to do hard labor on the railway tracks. Not only were they chained but their tasks were back breaking and laborous.We too can be prisoners in chains and not even realize it. We can be chained to burdens that are not ours but are for God to deal with. The chains can be made of something called “unforgiveness” which hold us to spirits of resentment, bitterness, anger, rage and even hate. What chains do is they bind and restrict our movements. Isn’t that what sin does in our lives, it prevents us from having a wonderful spirit filled and free life? Like in Isaiah 61, the prisoners (captives) are freed from their captivity. We can be prisoners and have invisible chains on us and not even realize it. We need to be set free from those chains that are binding us to sin. How do we get free? We begin to spend time in prayer and ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts and make us free from all those sins that are tying us down. We need to forgive those that have hurt us and have caused us pain. Secondly, we need to realize that we have a loving God that will free us, but all we have to do is ask. Ask God to remove those chains of oppression right now, today and not to let any time go or you will be a slave to sin and be like those prisoners on the chain gang – bound and enslaved.
“Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Question: Are you bound in chains and need to be set free? Are you willing to forgive and be released as a prisoner of sin?