Let me say this, as difficult as it may be at times, as
tears come and pain increases, I still wouldn’t change the fact that I am a
Christian! Because while the stated times above are real, I also can say that I
have an inner peace that gets me through any difficult times, and as the song
goes, “I've had some good days I've had some hills
to climb I've had some weary days and some sleepless nights but when I look
around
and I think things over all of my good days out-weigh my bad days I won't complain!” The song continues on “Because God’s been good to me, more than this old world could (or would my paraphrase) be. All of my good days out weigh my bad days and I won’t complain.”
and I think things over all of my good days out-weigh my bad days I won't complain!” The song continues on “Because God’s been good to me, more than this old world could (or would my paraphrase) be. All of my good days out weigh my bad days and I won’t complain.”
The bible says, “I have come that you might have life and
have it more abundantly!” Let’s take a deeper look at what that means. Let’s
first look at the preceding scripture. “the thief (Satan) does not come except
to steal, and to kill and destroy.”
What is he stealing? Joy, love, happiness, life, laughter,
peace of mind, instilled fear, health, and tranquility.
What is the abundant life promised by Christ? Joy, love,
happiness, life, laughter, peace of mind, confidence, health, and tranquility.
It’s interesting how depending on who you yield your life
to, you obtain the same names of stuff, but the affect is drastically
different!
There’s a praise that lives deep in my heart!! A praise that
says to God, “It is well with my soul!” You are the head of my life. You are
the author and finisher of my Faith! You are my Jehovah Jireh (provider),
Jehovah shalom (peace) Jehovah Nissi (my standard bearer)! You know the plans
that You have for me, plans for my good, plans with an expected HOPE!! 
A praise that tells me that I have been justified by my
faith in Christ. So I am now the righteousness of Christ – God sees Christ when
He looks at me and you. His blood that was shed on the cross covers me and
makes me righteous before God. As Christ is in heaven so am I on earth. What
are you talking about Angela? I am glad you asked. As Christ is at peace
sitting at the right hand of God, positionally, in Christ I too am sitting at
the right hand and have that same peace, if I believe it, yield to it, and
accept it by faith. As Christ is whole in heaven, so am I on earth. I and you
too, lack nothing in your life, because of the following promises from God:
o
We will never be forsaken, neither will we ever be
begging bread. (Ps. 37:25)
o
God supplies all our needs according to his
riches in glory. (Phil 4:19) Needs are not only finances. Look to God for all
your needs, love, safety, guidance, help, comfort, confidence.
o
We am complete in Christ. (Col 2:10 - For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him) Come on now this scripture should
get you out of your chair and send your running around the room!! This means no
one can add or take anything away from me or you because in Christ we lack
absolutely nothing! Everything we need was placed in us and made available to us
the day we accepted Christ as our personal savior!! We have been equipped to
accomplish everything this life has for us to do and knowing as Paul said that
the day will come with we too can say we have fought the good fight, we have
finished the race, we have kept the faith!!
o
Greater is He that is in me than he who is in
the world (1 John 4:4). With Christ in us we have protection over every part of
our body that Satan may try to attack!! This includes our mind. That is the
devil’s playground. It is there that he jacks us all up. It is there that he
makes us second guess ourselves. It is there that he causes us to become
fearful of things. It is there that all evil thoughts begin, and if I don’t
call upon the name of the Lord and invoke the reality that Christ is greater
than the devil, then those evil thoughts take root and are born.
o
For we did not receive
the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we received the Spirit of adoption by
whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) When we are fearful of things we
become a slave to that fear and we’re told here that we are not to be a slave
to it. But what are we to do? Glad you asked and I am glad to accommodate. We “Trust
in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding.” (Prov.
3:5-6) Now you ask how do I trust? You simply rest in God. Rest what on earth
does that mean? It means that you ask the Holy Spirit to take over completely
in your life and you yield your thoughts, your actions, your hopes and your
dreams to Him. You lay them at His feet and say, “It is well with my soul.” And
every time you find yourself picking back up your stuff, and find yourself trying
to handle it yourself, STOP, cry Our Father, I cast all my cares upon you.
Please take this load for it is not mine to carry. And do that each time you
find yourself doing that. Then be still always remembering that He is God all
by Himself! This is how you transform your mind by exercising your faith.
So don’t let what you see on TV, see in the streets, experience
in your workplace, or in your relationships take precedent over your spiritual reality
– God is in control and you expect God to do exactly what He does, handle your
stuff, while you handle His – being the salt, the light, sharing your faith,
not compromising His word, not stating good is evil and evil is good. Remain
fully persuaded that the good work He began in you that He will
carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Yes it is well with our soul!! And we will
walk every day with a heart of expectancy, hope, and confidence!!
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