"I will run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32

It doesn't make sense. How can a command, something so restrictive and demanding, be associated with freedom? Rules and authority are often thought of negatively, eliciting groans from many in my generation. Freedom, on the other hand, is thought of as blissful independence. As contradictory as it may seem - this verse speaks to my heart. In my life, I am constantly seeking to run in the path God paves for me. My moral values are shaped by my relationship with Him. I obey His commands and honor Him - not because I feel obligated to, but because He has set me free.

I can't identify the specific moment where Christ set my heart free; it was more of a process. My freshman year of high school, I went on a missions trip with my youth group to Cancun, Mexico. Those ten days were hot and sweaty, filled with hard work and little sleep. Looking back, however, I see them as some of the most beautiful and important days of my walk with God. It was then that I began spending time with Him each day, praying and reading His Word. I saw Him at work in my life, teaching me, changing my heart, and answering prayer. As He revealed his love and faithfulness to me, I fell in love with Him.

The next year was a time of change, as many things I had come to rely on suddenly disappeared.  My world began caving in, and just when I thought it couldn't get worse - it would. But it was during that time that I felt God's presence in an incredible way. While the world around me crumbled, I realized that He was my fortress, and rejoiced knowing that He would never change. When it felt like my heart would never heal, and all I could do was cry, I learned that He was my best friend.

Through both the mountain-top and the valley, God revealed His amazing love to me. It took both experiences for me to truly understand what it means to be set free. Now, I am seeking to live a life that glorifies Him. Because of His great love, I want to honor Him by living in His commands. I have been set free by God's grace, and living in His will brings me such joy and peace. I am not content to simply walk in His commands, I want to run; run as hard as I can and give Him my all. The joy and peace I find in living my life for Christ is hard to explain. All I know is this: I am free!