Shackles

There's a song from my ipod playlist, it's a gospel song that says
Take these Shackles from my feet so I can dance, I just want to praise you, I just want to praise you..... It's a lively song, makes easier running. Alot of my songs
are spiritually based, NOT because I'm holy or anything, it's b/c I'm 54 and when I RUN, I need all the spiritual help I can get. But, I sing, take these shackles off my feet so I can RUN!! Anyway, started thinking about all the things that I consider
my shackles. Here goes.

My shackle of fear- have alot of it, anxiety, fear,worry, lack of trust, it weighs me down alot.

of depression- I don't have severe depression, but just enough to cause apathy, lack of energy sometimes, but mostly in the winter.

of obsession with food-now you KNOW that can weigh a person down and it literally has. I lost over 40 lbs and have over the last year gained 20 back and can't get any control over it. If it all comes back, don't know if I have another weight loss in me,

of selfish nature-like how something might affect me! My first thought, then I sift through and try to look outside myself

of Control, I start out trying to control people, places, things, doesn't work

but most important the shackle of lack of faith. Do I trust God really?

I do when things are going my way. But, But But Thank God, when I ask God to remove these things, my fear, worry, obsession, selfishness, He does! Doesn't mean God is a
"Genie God" it's just my perspective is usually changed. Then I feel strength,hope, and mostly surrender. But surrender with hope. Until the next day, and I start all over again. My shackles show up, each morning, some mornings not so bad as others. Then I think about others and all the stuff ALL people go through. My shackles aren't so special, but they are SO THERE with me most of the time!

But He has given me beauty for Ashes, gladness for mourning (Isaiah 61:3) and when I ask in accordance to His will-removes the shackles from my feet so I can dance, or run, or smile, or help, or understand, or listen, or deny my selfish nature.

Well gotta go, right now I'm shackled by the basketball game AGAIN, and we might lose to the worse team in the Big East. I gotta rid myself of this one!!!