Abundant Life

The bible speaks about God's ability to bless us abundantly. God's love is described as being abounding. God’s desire for our life is the exceedingly abundant. How do we get to live the life that God desires for us? Follow God’s word. Heed his instruction. Make prayerful decisions. Seek the counsel of elders. Ask for wisdom. Wait for godly answers. Accept the consequences of past decisions and make an effort to be a good steward moving forward. The abundant life is within reach, but it does require you to do things differently. Change is how we get to live the life God desires for us. Acceptance is the path to the abundant life. Obedience is the key to successfully navigating God’s will for our lives, because it won’t always make sense. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Trust the plan, but more importantly, trust God.

Talkers

We all know them. We love them. They tell the best stories. They are entertaining. They are likable. They are talkers. There is nothing wrong with talkers until you need a doer. Sometimes, talkers can be doers, but a lot of the time, they are just that “all talk.” There will come a point in your life when you will prefer a prayer and a doer over a taker and a talker.

Malum

Ephesians 6:12  (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I think that sometimes we forget that Lucifer was an angel. I think we are ignorant of the fact that spiritual warfare is real. I think we substituted faith for crystals. We use "energy" in the place of spirit. We have forgotten that the battlefield is in our minds. Our souls are at stake. Our humanity is being challenged. Our character is being tested. Execution is the cost of fear. Detention is the cost of being an immigrant. Torment is the cost of being a minority. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Fervent

Fervor n.

1. intensity of feeling or expression

2. intense heat

The Bible talks about having a fervent mind, effectual fervent prayers, and possessing a fervent spirit. Our thoughts should be passionate and deliberate. Our prayers should be a profession of our faith. Our spirit should be expectant. I say should because some of us have lost our intensity. Our passionate flames are smoldering. We are still on fire, but our flames can be extinguished by disappointment. Fan the flames. Ignite your passion. Renew your strength. Change your mind. Raise your expectation. Pray effectual fervent prayers. Love fervently. 
 

Zest

"If things don't come easy, there is no premium on effort. There should be joy in the chase, zest in the pursuit."-Branch Rickey
 

I can admit that when things become challenging one of the first things to go is my joy. I get stressed. I worry. I'm easily irritated, and I snap easily. I'm learning that I need to turn my stress into zest. I can do something productive with that energy. I can work out. I can write. I can pray. I can clean. I can remind myself that this too will pass. I can ask myself what am I supposed to learn in this situation? What's the lesson? Refocus. Get a new perspective...No matter what you are facing remember...turn your stress into zest.