Hello again, and welcome back! So good to have you here today.
Friend, as I remember my former way of life, Psalm 107:10 described me perfectly: “Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains.” The darkness was “utter” or complete, and the chains were “iron,” in other words, unbreakable! I made vows, promises, resolutions - all to no avail. No diet worked long term, no New Year’s resolution lasted, all of it a big failure.
Question 1. Do you identify with the description of a prisoner “suffering in iron chains”? If so, how?
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The tragic part about living in darkness and suffering in iron chains is that we cannot simply choose to live in the light, break the chains, or walk out of prison. We can't work our chains off, step them off, diet them off, vow them off or, in any other way, remove them. It is part of our human nature to try, though, which is why yo-yo dieting (lose the weight and gain it back repeatedly) is common, as is going from one weight loss diet program or exercise method to another.
To experience lasting freedom, it takes the power of the Living God, the Holy Spirit's power to rescue us from darkness, break our chains, and set us free. We must turn to the Lord, cry out to Him, and seek Him for heart change. He has the power to change hearts. He can free us!
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” Psalms 107:13-16 (NIV)
Question 2. According to Psalm 107:13-16 NIV, what things did the Lord do for the people who cried out to Him? Please list as many as you see:
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