Posted on: 26th August 2025

Freedom is not just the absence of something negative. It’s about the presence of something righteous. Freedom in the kingdom doesn’t mean being empty, but it means fullness of life.

We must be filled with the Spirit. Rather than just hungering for an absence of sin or bondage, we must also run fast into everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) These things enlarge our capacity to be filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God, which is where we find true freedom. ‘Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom’! (2 Corinthians 3:17)

(Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:43-45 for reasons as to why we must be filled with the Spirit.)

If we want to be free of the fear of man, trying hard not to worry about what others think just won’t work! I believe the only way to truly move away from the fear of man is to move towards the fear of the Lord. As this healthy fear grows, there will be no room for any other kind of fear in our lives. The fear of the Lord is not about the connotations that the word “fear” might provoke, such as terror, alarm or dread. The fear of the Lord is very different to these things. It’s about a close walk with God: a walk of obedience, a walk of holiness, a walk of awe, a walk of worship, and a recognition of Jesus Christ as Lord and King.

To give another example, freedom from the love of money doesn’t mean living without money. Instead, it might look like having a resourcing mindset where you live generously, sowing into the kingdom. It looks like seeing yourself as a kingdom partner, working with God’s purposes on the earth. With this mindset, it’s not about how much or how little you have, but it’s about how you use the resources that God has entrusted to you.

With anything that is unrighteous in our lives, God doesn’t just want to get rid of it, but He wants to do an exchange with us. Isaiah 61, for example, has a long list of exchanges!

In the kingdom, I believe freedom is a daily activity and a lifelong journey. This doesn't mean we dwell on our shortcomings all day, but it means responding quickly to convictions or promptings of the Holy Spirit and moving forward in freedom and fullness. And remember, it’s not something we can work for or do by ourselves, but it is the Spirit of God that brings freedom under the blood of Jesus!

If there is an area of your life where God wants to bring you into freedom, ask God what He wants to give you in exchange. He is full of good gifts! You will not leave empty-handed, but God has something better for you.

By Mary Swain, Dayspring Church, author of the 40 Days Devotionals series.