Because of today, my body will forever claim God’s faithfulness in my life and His love and grace for me. I will always have a reminder in the times I forget the works He has performed in my life. Today, I have outwardly proclaimed that I am set FREE! For a long time now I have wanted a tattoo that would remind me of what God pulled me out of and how I will never go back there. A reminder of that when the darkness consumed me, my Jesus saved me. And today that wish was fulfilled.
Today, I got “free” tattooed on my hip. I am so so excited I finally got it but more excited over the meaning it holds in my life. I have battled the demons inside my head for many years as I’m positive everyone has, but many times I let them win. I was so burdened with my sin and guilt and shame. My heart was overcome with sadness and darkness. I was wallowing in self-pity and I needed someone to pull me out of my sadness. Jesus is the only one who can take me out of the darkness and into the light for eternity. It was a battle for my heart, trust me.
There would be times I would walk with Jesus and feel a bit lighter but I had never truly let go of the burden of sin and shame I hid inside me. But over this past year, each day the burden got a little lighter. I could run a little faster without being held back by the demons in my head screaming that I wasn’t good enough. I started to believe I was worth something. I believed maybe Jesus could truly love me for just me. I believed I was truly FREE. So here are the truths I claiming through getting this tattoo:
I am FREE from the burden of sin.
I am FREE from needing to have earthly worth because I am called worthy by a King.
I am FREE from guilt.
I am FREE to love because He has freely loved me.
I am FREE of perfection.
I am FREE because of Truth.
I am FREE because He knows me.
I am FREE because He extended to me beautiful grace.
Freedom is truly a beautiful and sweet grace given by God. It allows the joy in my heart and peace in my life to be constant even when wars are being waged in the circumstances around me. My desire is for everyone to truly feel the freedom that comes with claiming the truth that your heart is known, you have worth, and it is all made possible by His grace no matter what you have done. He uses broken, imperfect people to do great things for Him.
My tattoo was drawn by a beautiful, talented girl who I love dearly. She was in my small group I led my senior year as we sought out our God-given purposes together. She has such a beautiful soul and I love her soft spirit. She sees the good in even the messiest of things, including me, which I am beyond thankful for. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get to pour into her and be a part of her journey to discover her purpose. However, she did the same to me and has extended so much love and grace to me. So I thought, who better to draw this reminder of the purpose of freedom God has given me?
Every day I can now have a permanent physical reminder of the permanent freedom given to me by my Savior and I am so thankful. Thank you, Jesus.
With freedom and grace,
Olivia Mars
LiveGrace 