Where the spirit of the lord is there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) It was in the mailbox – the dreaded red card. A traffic ticket from 5 years earlier had slipped my mind. The city needed money and was having a warrant roundup. My husband suggested that I just sit it out, but I was working full time. His friend said that I could go in and talk to them and set it up to come in and sit it out on the weekend. Well, he was wrong. I got to the office to talk to them and they said I couldn’t do that. They handcuffed me in front of everyone in the office. I called my husband and told him what was going on. I went through the whole ordeal of fingerprints and picture and then was put in the holding tank which was packed. I was freezing and curled up in a corner. I asked for a blanket and they said no. I was holding it together but just barely. It was a fascinating slice of humanity. People came and went to see the judge. Supper, such as it was came and went. I cried a lot. The others started talking, asking each other why they were there. One said, “I robbed the 7-11” Another was there for prostitution and a third was there for assault. They looked at me and asked why I was there. Bursting into tears, I said, “A traffic ticket!” They all agreed that it was not fair. Night time was worse. The shower was right next to the holding cell and was very loud. There were people being brought down to shower at 2 am. People were being brought in all night long. Many of them were screaming at the police and each other. Finally about mid morning I was called in to see the judge. Again, I started crying. “I’m so glad you’re here!” I said. “I’m not coping well.” He looked at my file and said, “How long have you been here?” I told him and he said, “I think you’ve suffered enough. Can you hang on 45 more minutes. I nodded and dried my eyes. I was never so glad to see the sunshine and I haven’t gotten a traffic ticket since. I hated being behind bars that night. I hated not being able to go where I needed and do what I needed. The truth is, in our spiritual life we are often just as trapped. It might be from guilt or addiction. It might be from sadness that won’t let go. For me it is fear. I have been learning to recognize fear when I see it and walk out of it step by step but it has been a battle. There are legitimate things to be afraid of right now with the things happening in the world, but when it controls us we can be just as locked up as if we were in a physical cell. Whatever has us trapped spiritually will keep us from doing what we need to do and fulfilling god’s purpose for us. So how do we get free? First of all we recognize that we cannot free ourselves. That is why God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Paul said in the letter to the Romans, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Romans (7:19) He describes his frustration at his condition and then in verse 24 he says,” Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” ( Romans 7:24). So Jesus can deliver us from sin but what about the other things that plague us? What about fear? Because I needed to I looked up the scriptures about fear. There are 365 of them. Some of the ones I love most are these Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41:10. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 Even as I typed these verses they spoke to me again. Jesus can and will deliver us from our fear. Finally, what about disease, including addiction. In Isaiah 53:5 we read “ut He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. “ Later in 1 Peter2:24, we read, “"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” I encourage you this week to look for the areas where you are still bound. Accept Jesus’ healing and freedom. Learn more and more of Him and then spread the word to help someone who is still trapped.