Abundant Life?

"The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10)

This verse has been on my heart today as I have been pondering how so many of us live in defeat and lack, rather than abundance.  I am not talking necessarily about a "prosperity gospel" in the sense of finances, ​but our overall lives.  When we walk around as Believers in Jesus with our heads hung low, struggling with all the same types of sicknesses (physical, mental and emotional), the same divorce rates, the same sense of drudgery, filling our days with complaints and whining as if we have absolutely nothing to be joyful about, I can't help but wonder if this is how we are meant to live.  More importantly, is this how Jesus wants us to live?

Jesus has promised us an "abundant life."   The above description sounds anything BUT abundant!  The Greek word translated as "life" in this verse is ZOE.  This is defined as "life in the absolute sense, life as God has it."  Yes, Jesus came to save us from the torment of hell, but He also came to give us this ZOE life!  It is not something we need to wait for until the day we are in Paradise with Him.  It is a present state that we are to live in the here and now.

But how do we do this?  The only way is to refuse to focus on any thoughts, emotions or actions that are not in line with the Word of God.  When we line all of these up with God's Word, we will find this ZOE life coming forth in our minds and bodies.  This is not a popular stance in our current culture and will not be received by many, but it is filled with truth, freedom and abundance.  Can we do this in our own power?  I certainly don't believe that I can in my humanness.  However, with God's help, ALL of this is possible, if only we will submit our will to Him.

May you find your true freedom in Christ today, that he died for you, me, and everyone to have.

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