Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:16
God created me to proclaim the story of His freedom available to all. When did He decide this? Before I was born and before my parents named me. He gave them my name. Which by the way I am just finding out its meaning as God is revealing to me my purpose here. If I look up Charla, here is what I find:
Free person
Origin: German. Meaning: Free person. Charla is a girl’s name of German origin. It’s closely connected to the boy’s name Charles, which means “free person.” Whether you want to call baby after a family member or celebrate their adventurous spirit, Charla has you covered. How fitting.
I have yearned and searched for freedom more than anything in my life. First freedom from drug and alcohol addiction, then freedom from shame, freedom from legalism, freedom from trying to measure up to a standard I never could. This Galatians 5:1 verse was given to me months ago written in my journal and then an idea for a blog. I paid for the URL and secured the space, not knowing what God would do with it. I am terrified to misrepresent God in any way, but I think He wants me to tell my story and share how personal He is. He isn’t a nebulous force in the universe, He isn’t the man upstairs. He is Holy God, creator of everything out of nothing, He is a person, and He wants to have a personal relationship with His people.
A lot of people think Christianity is a set of rules and dos and don’ts and I am so guilty of making Christianity appear to be this because of my performance based legalistic view of God, but He is teaching me He isn’t that way. A relationship with Him is freedom from all the things that bind us as humans. All the things that we think we give up when we follow Him are the very things, we need freedom from. And once you start to taste that freedom, it is like nothing else.
I am slow to learn. I became a Christian at a young age (or thought so) then my life was nothing of a follower of Jesus. April 8, 2014, I really was re born. Now it is 2024 and anyway let’s just say I am a slow learner and very stubborn. God knows me though, He created me. So, He knew how to get me to where I am, which by the way is nowhere near where I am going. I feel truly unworthy to write a thing about our Savior, but I am overflowing, and I want people to know this joy which the world cannot and will not ever offer. I pray I will also come in humility. There is nothing special about me. God loves every single person on this planet and every single person can have a relationship with the One who made them. All you must come with is a knowledge of your need and a heart ready to receive.
He says in Jeremiah 29:13 that you will seek Him and find him if you seek Him with all your heart. Proverbs 2:1-5 says that if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding. If you seek for her (wisdom) as for silver and search for her (wisdom) as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. He loves you; He wants you, but He will not force you. I do not know where God will take this, He hasn’t given me any plan, just this today and a prayer for you: if You don’t know Jesus, why not?
-Charla
Charla, great start! Don’t worry about where you are going with this. God has His plan and wants to use you to His glory.
Take notes on your life, and the Holy Spirit will guide you in the right direction. Be true to what He has laid on your heart.