“Abundant Living”
By Dianne Prince
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).
This morning’s scripture is a reminder that we are to protect our joy at all costs. The devil comes into our day to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our faith. He knows he cannot get to our souls. He cannot take our salvation, so his job is to make our lives appear to those who are unsaved as lives of misery and strife. With no joy in our spirits, no hope in our minds, and no faith in our souls, we are helpless, and our witness is a negative one to the onlookers in the world. A negative witness will have no influence on changing the lives of the unsaved and a negative witness will yield no fruit.
So many times, we get caught up in our daily routine of life. So many times, we begin to live as if God does not have the power to handle our problems. Realize today that Jesus does not want us to be burdened by the day-to-day routine. He does not want us to wander aimlessly trying to figure out what needs to get done. He does not want us to burn cycles trying to determine what to do about the crisis of the moment or ponder how we are to complete everything we “think” we must accomplish today. Instead, He wants us to calmly proceed through the day, depending on Him for every task, and seeking His guidance at every crossroad.
The reminder for you today is this: intentionally make Jesus number one in your day—number one in your thoughts and number one in your actions. How do you put Jesus first and keep Him first throughout your day? Keep in mind that the enemy is always busy in your day. Expect him to be creative in the way he infiltrates your space. Be on guard for his attempts to use those close to you to accomplish his purpose. And look for him to subtly work to disrupt your peace. Be ready when he shows up. How? Resist him with the Word of God. And cancel his influence by speaking the Word against his schemes.
Keep in mind that a life of abundance is not a life filled with your heart’s desires. It is not a life filled with creature comforts and things. And it is not a life where everything is in order. Abundant living is going about your day with an attitude of gratitude in the midst of messy circumstances.
Today, refresh your Spirit with a promise from God. Rejuvenate your soul with your favorite scripture. Take life one day at a time and live in the moment knowing that Jesus is in the moment with you.
