Day 21: Life to the full
John 10:10
The thief comes to steal and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Most people will know John 10:10, it’s a verse that is known well to Christians and if you’re a new Christian you will begin to remember it and see and hear about it more and more.
Whichever of those apply to you, I ask that you breathe and take a moment to ask God to speak to you afresh. God speaks to us at different times through His Word and we often get moments of revelation when we take a step back to look at something from a new perspective.
As we walk through a wilderness of unknown, uncertainty, pain and loss; as we deal with a global pandemic, which none of us have probably ever lived through before – every day there are changes. Every day things are different. The future holds uncertainty so it sounds strange that we are discussing what it means to have an abundant life during this time. But actually right in this moment it’s exactly what we should be doing.
John 10:10 tells us that the enemy has a plan to come and destroy us. However our Almighty God
also has a plan that is far greater. That plan is life and to live life in all its abundance.
When I think of an abundant life I am reminded of Joseph in Genesis. He truly represents what it is to live in a life of abundance. It’s easy for us to start defining what an abundant life looks like for us, but this may not align with how God sees our life. Joseph went through many troubles but the Lord was with him. It says in the story of Joseph that he became a slave, which we would think ‘how can you live an abundant life when you’re a slave?’ but Joseph was fruitful and even as a slave he had the Lord with him and in that moment in time he was still living a full life. The many things that happened to Joseph are truly remarkable but all through his life he was fruitful!
One thing that stands out to me is he knew who he was in God. Many people who saw Joseph would often say that God was with him, so Joseph must have carried himself in a way that overflowed the Spirit of God. Joseph kept giving God the glory and being faithful. Joseph and his whole family lived in abundance because Joseph knew who he was in God. He knew who to praise, he knew God had given him a purpose.
Let me encourage you to find your identity in God like Joseph did.
Know who you are in God and stand firm
Know that God loves you
Know that God does not abandon you
Know that God is stable
Know God has a purpose for you
When we are filled with the Spirit of God, it overflows a love that we share and can bless others with. Being secure in God’s love helps us see that if God is for us who can be against us. I pray that God shows you a way to look at things with Spiritual eyes, a way that cannot be described with words. I pray that you are able to have a security like Joseph did that God loves you, that God has a purpose for you and whatever we face, we can live a fruitful life; an abundant life.
Suz Gregory
Community Manager