Daily Devotional for Sunday September 21, 2008
Are You Enjoying Your Life
(John 10:10)
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 KJV)
Are you enjoying your life? Seriously, take a moment right now, think, and honestly answer me, are you enjoying your life? I am not asking you if everything is perfect in your life, since that will never be the case. We will always have things that we are facing, battles to fight, challenges to overcome, that is simply part of living in this sin-filled and fallen world we are passing through. But today I want you to take some time and reflect and tell me whether you are enjoying your life or not.
In my time with the Lord very early this morning, this is the question God asked me. As I was praying for the things I had on my list to pray for, spending some time after that just fellowshipping with the Lord and talking to Him about different issues, He stopped me and simply asked, "Bill, are you enjoying your life?" Without any hesitation I told the Lord that yes, I was really enjoying my life. Despite the problems and trials we all have to face in our life, despite the never-ending challenges of Liveprayer, the bottom line is I look forward to each day and truly enjoy my life.
Afterwards, I was thinking back about this seemingly strange question He had asked me, but the more I thought about it the less strange it really was. You see, the Lord wants us to enjoy our life. After all, the Bible tells us that He came to give us life and LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY! This is a Biblical truth that we often forget and I am afraid a promise from the Lord we don't embrace enough. What happens is we get so caught up in our day-to-day trials and tribulations we forget that we are supposed to be enjoying our life along the way.
Here is the key and the message I want you to hear today. No matter what your trials may be, no matter what your challenges may be, no matter what your battles may be, you can still enjoy your life and embrace the promise that Jesus came to not just give us life, but life more abundantly! That means despite the hurts and pains you may be experiencing today, you can still enjoy your life and the abundance Christ promised you.
I already know many of you have stopped reading and are typing emails that basically are asking me how you can enjoy your life when you are going through a divorce, or dealing with a major health crisis, or in bondage to some addiction, or have serious financial problems, or children who are living in rebellion to God, or need a job, or any number of things that may be going on in your life today. The answer is your relationship with Christ! Because of HIM, you can face all of the problems that are out there and still enjoy your life.
Jesus told His disciples in the Garden that they would have trials and tribulations in their life, but He added to "be of good cheer" because He had overcome this world. We can never forget that because of the victory Christ won on the cross 2000 years ago, we have the victory over whatever problems life may bring our way. We can go through a divorce and be victorious. We can battle major health problems and be victorious. We can battle an addiction and be victorious. We can face severe financial problems and be victorious. We can face whatever life throws our way and be victorious because of HIM!!!
I love you and care about you so much. I want to encourage you today that if you are not enjoying your life, it is time to START! The fact is today is the only day you are certain of, tomorrow is promised to none of us. Each day we wake up is a gift from God and we need to treat it as such. No matter what we may have to face during the day, we have to never forget that Christ is living within us, we have His strength, can live in His victory, and that is why we can go through the day with that peace that passes all human understanding and unspeakable joy.
I will be praying for you today to start enjoying your life. Simply know that it is never going to be perfect and that there will always be challenges to face, hurdles to overcome, and trials to endure. That is just part of this journey we are on. However, because you know Jesus, you have His strength, His promises, His hope, and the assurance that when this short journey is over you will be forever with Him.
Are you enjoying your life? If the answer is no, then you better start. Life is too short to not enjoy it. The greatest enjoyment of all is when we are fulfilling our purpose which is to serve and glorify Him with our life. I can guarantee you that if you are allowing the Lord to use your life you will not only find that perfect peace and great joy, but each day ENJOY YOUR LIFE!!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller