Romans 6:15-23 NKJV

[15] What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! [16] Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? [17] But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. [18] And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. [20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have always preferred the notion that I am independent. I don't like being owned, controlled, or told what to do. I am my own man. I like things my own way. I want to do what I want to do.

All of this sounds great, right?

It wasn't too long ago that my way was how I did everything. My way almost destroyed my marriage. My choices landed me into addictions that "I" couldn't break free from. I was owned and controlled by the very things I knew were killing me.

I thought "my way" was real freedom. What I learned is that "my way" is a pathway to sin, addiction, and death. When I gave up on "my way" and surrendered to the Lord, I found real freedom. His way IS freedom.

We all worship something. We all bow down to one thing or another. My way and my choices were idols and false gods. The enemy wanted me dead. My life was restored through faith in Christ and surrendering my will to the leading of the Holy Spirit.