Here we will define a few ideas keeping you locked in the religious cage.

Breaking out of a “religious cage” is a critical step in redefining who you are because human religious structures often trap people in fear, performance, and guilt—the exact opposite of God’s true purpose for your life. Recognizing these bars is the first step toward stepping into true spiritual power and personal fulfillment.
If this resonates with you it’s time to shift what’s blocking you from aligning to God’s true purpose for you.

True freedom requires an entirely new psychological blueprint, as opposed to a set of do’s & don’t to live by or behavior modification

#1 Fear – You don’t want to be looked at as bitter, rebellious, or unforgiven

No one wants to see themselves as bitter or rebellious. This is alarming to the believer to consider that we are not walking in love and being forgiving. After all Christ forgave us so how could we not forgive others. To appear bitter or rebellious is directly against the foundation of what we have received and the conduct that is expected of us.

It is completely understandable to feel alarmed when confronting the possibility of bitterness or rebellion in your heart. For a believer, realizing that your inner life does not match the radical forgiveness you received from Christ creates a painful tension. Your identity is rooted in grace, making unforgiveness feel like a betrayal of who you are. Scripture commands believers to lay aside all bitterness because Christ forgave you. Failing to walk in love makes you look and feel disconnected from the Gospel message.

Forgiveness is a daily choice, not a one-time emotion that instantly deletes human hurt. Admitting you struggle with bitterness is the exact moment you open the door for God’s grace to change you.

The truth is, there are some deep rooted things that your subconscious and your body does remember and is holding on to whether you know it consciously or not. It moves the needle in your life to recognize and come to terms with what you have been through. 

Recognizing that your parents or guardians may have acted out of survival, ignorance, or their own unhealed trauma does not invalidate the pain, neglect, or fear you felt as a child. 

That might mean that you have to consider what mommy, daddy or any other adults did or did not do in their ignorance:

1. They wanted to keep you safe so they imparted fear or anxiety of an unsafe world 
2. They had to work around the clock to keep the bare necessities and you didn’t understand that at your young age. They were not available to explain how much you really meant to them. You missed them and your soul felt abandoned, neglected or rejected
3. Your young mind did not equate food, clothing and the roof over your head as love. Love to you would have been hugs and kisses, that love may not have been demonstrated the way your young mind would have understood it.

To really tap into the messages your mind picked up, can be daunting and feel like digging up the past, with a bunch of bad feelings, negativity or toxicity. As a believer, it’s been suggested, these feelings and this deep dive is not Christ like. 

It takes immense spiritual and psychological courage to look directly at those painful spaces, and your perspective beautifully aligns with the concept of bringing hidden things into the light for true healing.

However, it is my suggestion that these feelings are in our psychology and we must gain the courage to look at it all, with the guidance & help of the Holy Spirit. No matter how painful and what is uncovered. It takes courage to clear, clean, & clarify what happened, as well as who did it. 

The idea that confronting past pain is “not Christ-like” often stems from a misunderstanding of peace, but true peace is rarely achieved by bypassing the truth.

Major steps to healing:

1. Forgiving: Identifying “who did it” and what happened is not about harboring bitterness; it is a necessary step of diagnosis before any genuine forgiveness or boundaries can occur.
2. Taking responsibility to course correct: Scripture is filled with raw, unfiltered expressions of grief, anger, and feelings of abandonment; processing negative emotions is a sacred tradition, not a lack of faith.
3. Redefining who we really are without the baggage: Moving past the baggage means you stop letting your history dictate your destiny. It shifts your identity from “someone who was hurt” to someone who is actively choosing who they want to be today.

We Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens US!  Phil: 4:13

#2 Being Excommunicated / Ostracized

Our church community and family is very much a part of our identity. If you’ve grown up in that church or with that pastor, you know pretty much everyone and everyone knows you. This is the place where you learned about The Lord, about faith and you have grown to a person that can quote the scriptures that have framed your life this far. With that being said, you can’t imagine not being a part of it anymore. Why would God want you to abandon where, you believe He’s placed you? That does not make any logical sense.

There is a fear that this could not be what God wants you to do. Through scripture we see new kings, teachers, and prophets emerge in the place of another. Some Kings, priest, and prophets died, some rebuked, some were replaced all at the will of God. God always showed his priority was for His people and He placed all others in place to help lead and guide His people for His plans and purposes. Those put in place were servants appointed to serve the people, God’s people. The current church and culture has turned it to the people who are servants to leadership and those in authority to watch over and protect your life.

Mark 7:6–7 (AMP)

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written [in Scripture], ‘This people honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

7 ‘They worship Me in vain [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense], Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’” We can see that tradition is not to be followed above the scriptures and or the plans and purposes of God.

As we are desiring to grow more, to experience more and to demonstrate greater faith for better outcomes. Something inside or maybe it’s the outside circumstances that just aren’t exciting you anymore. Many times we can look at what we have and where we are, such as we have the job we prayed & believed for, we have the car, the position, etc…. however there is something missing, we’re feeling that discontent inside of us. I submit to you that this is the indication to go higher and introduce yourself to some new thangs. Don’t be deceived in thinking that God is not into the upgrade, not in terms of greed, gluttony or being materialistic. Let’s be clear, God has given us dominion, authority, power, not to be forgotten that we can “speak those things as though they exist”. Speaking things into existence is the ultimate manifestation. None of this is for selfish indulgence, but to magnify & glorify Him.

Allow me to venture out and say that if all you’re speaking into existence is: not fornication, not drinking or doing drugs, paying your tithes, your rent & car note is paid, etc… you are limiting God. This is so basic. If ever you get a notion that basic is not enough it’s not ingratitude, it’s a longing to step into greater power in God and I will take the risk to say He is calling you to higher & greater.

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