A few weeks ago, I brought home a Russian Tortoise. Since then, I have fallen more in love with this shelled creature than I thought was possible. I needed him in more ways than one, only I didn't know it until I had him. 

The other day, I decided to take him on a walk. Imagine a tortoise on a leash and that was the scene as we slowly walked across the driveway together. When we got back home, I had him out on the deck with me, watching him closely as he explored his new surroundings. Sometime later, I needed both my attention and my hands free, so I took him back inside and placed him in his enclosure: a 50 gallon plastic tote that he can't see out of. 

As I went about what I needed to do, I stopped to check in on him every now and then. Each time I did, he was as high as he could get in the enclosure. One time he was on top of his log, while the next he was standing in the plant with his body pressed flat against the wall. He seemed restless. He had tasted freedom and was trying to escape.

But he couldn't. The walls were too high and there was nothing for him to grab onto for climbing out. He was helpless. Only I could free him.

How many times have we tasted freedom, only to be enslaved again? How many times has our Master set us free, only to find ourselves being put back in our prison? Just a few weeks ago, I was basking in the fact that I had been set free from something. Then, before I knew it, tempting thoughts and feelings were assaulting me and I was in a fight. There was one particular moment when thoughts of going back were swirling in my head. I found myself shouting, "No! I have been set free from that!" Scripture says, "He whom the son has set free is free indeed." I was free indeed, and not about to allow myself to be put back into slavery. 

Yet, sometimes it happens. Sometimes I find myself back in my prison, unable to free myself. It’s then that I need Jesus to lead me again to freedom. And thankfully, He is faithful to lead me every time.