The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10 HCSB

You’ve probably heard it said that someone is “living the good life”.  What does that mean to you?  Does it mean having the nicest house in the area, the newest and nicest car,  plenty of money in the bank, boats, vacations?  Think about what that means.

Now once you have established what you determine to be the good life,  I want you to consider this, are you living the good life?

Maybe you are like me and you can answer that from a couple of different perspectives.  You see, I have lived the good life according to the world’s standards.  I have lived the life where I had the nice house, the really nice car, nice vacations, but there was always a little something missing.  The picture wasn’t quite complete. When I was living that life, I couldn’t quite figure out what it was that was missing.  Sadly, I always pointed my little finger of blame at someone else.  If this person would just do right, then my life would be complete.  If this person would do this or not do that, then I would be okay and I would have everything I ever dreamed of.  I would be living the good life.

Boy, was I wrong.  You see I can’t control anyone else but me.  But I have learned the hard way that when I control myself and keep my focus on God, that I have that whole abundant life thing.  My life is complete.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that I have no problems in my life, but it means that I trust that God’s handling them so they don’t control me.  It means that I fully understand that if I focus on God, and God alone, that God will take care of everything else in my life and will provide for my every need.

I have this blessed assurance that the very same Jesus that paid the ultimate price for my sins will keep me safe and provide for me here on earth until God calls me home to live in glory with Him for eternity.  I don’t have to worry, although, I will admit that there are times when I lose my focus and worry.  But I will say that my recovery time is getting shorter. it doesn’t take me long to realize now that God is in control.  I have learned to call on some of his wonderful promises found in His Word.  Jeremiah 29:11 promises that He has good plans for me, not plans for any harm to me, but plans for me to prosper and do well. Romans 8:28 promises that as long as I love the Lord and am doing what He has called me to do, that He will work all things for my good. Psalm 91 promises that if I choose to seek shelter in Him that He will be my refuge and my fortress and He will protect me.

I have lived life with a lot of things that still left me feeling empty.  But now I live life with less things and I feel complete. The God-sized hole in my heart is full. I live with the Holy Spirit in me.  God wants us all to live the good life.  The good life is found in Him.

My prayer for you today is that you are living the good life.  I pray that your life is complete in Him.  So whether you are in need or you have everything that money can buy, you can be living the good life if you only turn to Him and trust in Him.  He wants you to not only live your life, but to live it in abundance.  Don’t let the devil take that away from you.

Have a great day!