The Cinderella story captivates us in
so many ways, but one aspect tends to be overlooked.
The house she cleaned day in and day
out was rightfully hers, an inheritance from her father. What the wicked
stepmother claimed by a marriage certificate Cinderella could claim through
blood, but the strong took advantage of the weak.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Jesus said, “How can anyone enter a
strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the
strong man?” (Matthew
12:29)
I’ve always thought of this as Bad
Guy over Good Guy. The Bad Guy breaks into the house, ties up the Good Guy and
robs him. The Enemy comes against us with shame, fear, and lies. As Cinderella
did with her stepmother, we believe the lies and he ties us up, making us slaves
in our own house, stealing our joy, peace, love, and truth.
But the reverse is also true. The
Good Guy can tie up the Bad Guy. We can tie
up and rob the Enemy, take back our joy, peace, and truth. Take back our lives.
The Enemy has no power over us except
what we allow.
Jesus never intended for us be slaves.
He came to bring us good news and God’s favor, to heal our wounds, and to set
us free from the Enemy (Isaiah
61).
It’s time we tie him up and take back
what he has stolen (James
4:7).
It’s time to seek out healing and freedom
and abundance (Matthew
11:28,29).
It’s time to live as we were intended
to – in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24); in
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control (Galatians
5:22-23) ; in power,
love, and a sound mind
(2 Timothy 1:7).
This is your house, Cinderella. Take
it back.
