- Apr 14, 2021

The Abundant Life

Are you living life to the fullest? What does living life to the fullest truly mean?

A women is contently reading a book with the caption, "The Word Wednesday"

I was convicted recently of what living to the fullest is not–surviving. Surviving is struggling to do the minimum to function. This happens because of circumstances, illnesses, sin or spiritual hinderances (like not renewing our minds daily). Sometimes we are put in this state. Sometimes we put ourselves in this state.

If we know that living life abundantly is not surviving, what is? EnduringWord.com, a website devoted to explaining the bible, states that, "Abundant life is a life of satisfaction and contentment in Jesus." This is in direct commentary of what Jesus said in John 10:10,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

The beginning of an abundant life is to first accept Jesus as your Lord and savior. This means acknowledging your sins, believing that Christ Jesus died for the remission* of sins, and then asking for forgiveness as a free gift, not anything one could work for/deserve. Once we have been forgiven, we have eternal life with Jesus! We can reap joy and peace is all circumstances.

Sometimes we miss out on this abundance because we have spiritual/physical blinders on. That is to say, we can easily deceive ourselves thinking we are fine when we are only surviving. It is not until we find ourselves exhausted and empty at the end of the day that reveals to us something is wrong.

Now I can personally attest that I have been walking with my blinders on. I easily get anxious to start my day that I skip time with Jesus. By 8pm I am so exhausted that I need to take a nap. Since I lost that time in the evening to be productive, I make up for it tomorrow in the morning. By doing this, I continue to neglect time with Jesus in order to catch up on "more pressing" matters. In the end I complain and groan not realizing I am the one creating my own problems!

Despite what life is like presently, we can have joy right now through Jesus who gives us comfort, strength and peace. We do not have to wait for our circumstances or for "the right conditions" to change our mentality, we can be renewed this moment!

Sometimes we may not feel rejuvenated, but a seed of hope is growing in you. Let it take root first. Then nurture it through prayer, fellowship, worship and bible study and your faith will bloom into a beautiful flower!

Do you have any spiritual blinders on? Pray and ask God to reveal them to you. Trust that God can and will refine you into a godly person. A splitting image of Jesus Christ. It will not be easy or quick, but it will be worth it.

You can read a more thorough explanation of John 10 here. And click here for more bible verses on having an abundant life.

Stay in the word. Stay renewed. Stay vivacious for Christ!

*the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, creator of all things. Holy, all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving. Thank you for Jesus Christ for without His sacrifice on the cross, we would be spiritually dead. You have made the way where there was no way for us to redeem ourselves. Now, we can have life and life to the fullest in Christ Jesus!

I pray that we will always put you first in our lives. We need you more desperately than the air we breathe! Help us to keep you at the forefront of every aspect of our lives. Our lives, having been bought at a great price, is now yours to glorify you and to love others.

In Jesus's name I pray, amen.