Liberty by the Holy Spirit
The Spirit doesn’t demand movement—He carries us forward in the freedom of His life.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Bob Hoekstra reminds us that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty—not law-bound obligation, not lifeless effort, and certainly not spiritual bondage. The old covenant, built on external commands, inevitably produced pressure and performance. Its letter brought death because it demanded life without providing it. But the new covenant, secured by grace and carried out by the indwelling Spirit, offers something vastly different: freedom.
This freedom isn't the shallow kind the world chases—license to indulge the flesh. No, it’s a deeper freedom: the liberty to walk by the Spirit rather than by the flesh, to serve in love instead of striving to prove ourselves. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit to bring liberty to the oppressed, and that same Spirit now lives in us—not to bind us with burdens, but to release us into the life of Christ.
The message is clear: We are no longer slaves to sin or self-effort. The Spirit within us provides not only new desires but new power. This liberty is not an escape from righteousness, but the only real way into it—through union with the One who is our righteousness.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
You are free now.
Not because you tried harder, but because I live in you.
Not by law, but by life.
Not by rules, but by relationship.
I am the Spirit of liberty, not of bondage. I don’t push you from behind with guilt or pressure. I lead you from within with grace and peace. The chains that once held you—sin, fear, self-reliance, shame—are broken. My presence is not about managing you with demands; I dwell in you to express My life through you.
You are no longer a servant scrambling for approval. You are a beloved child who already has it. Now, the righteousness you once strained toward flows from Me as I live through you. You’re not alone in trying to love others—I am the love that flows out. You’re not responsible for conjuring up faithfulness—I am the Faithful One within you.
This is your liberty: not permission to do as you please, but power to live as I please—because I’ve placed My desires in your heart. As you walk with Me, you will see how free you are from the old burdens. You’ll feel the chains loosen whenever you let Me do the living. And when you stumble, I do not shame you—I remind you: I am still here. I never left. I never will.
Scriptures referenced: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 3:17; Matthew 23:4; Luke 4:18; Romans 6:18; 1 Peter 2:16; Galatians 5:13; Romans 8:2
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like switching from riding a manual bicycle uphill to riding an e-bike with pedal assist. On your own, you strain and struggle, legs burning as the incline mocks your effort. But the moment you engage the assist, the same hill becomes possible—even joyful. The journey doesn't stop being real, but you are no longer the source of momentum. You're participating, but the power isn't yours. That's liberty.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I am no longer chained to my own effort. You have placed Your Spirit within me, and where Your Spirit is, I walk in freedom. I trust that today You will express Your life through me—not by pressure, but by peace. I am no longer under the weight of performing to please You. I live in the reality that You are pleased to dwell in me. As I walk through this day, I rest in the liberty of knowing You’re the One moving, leading, and loving through me. Thank You for making this my new normal in Christ.