God is so good about strengthening all of our being with all the fullness of His spiritual riches, until we become a body totally filled with His mercy, wisdom, power and grace. According to His power that works in us, He is able to do immensely more in and for us than we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:16-20, Amplified).
We stop striving and stressing to gain the riches of this world, and we look to Him to produce in us His enduring eternal life. His power cleanses, purifies and frees us from all sin, as well as the desire to sin. His Word is spirit and life for us (John 6:51, 63).
We find it almost impossible to continually walk in His ways, until we start to listen to the Spirit of God within us as He teaches, inspires, comforts and convicts us (Roman 7:15; Romans 8:7). We learn obedience through the things that we suffer, just like Jesus did (1 Peter 4:1-2; Acts 14:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:4).
Trials teach us to glory in our tribulation, to count even the worst plagues as a joyful event, and they teach us to patiently wait on the Lord to faithfully deliver us through each one of them (1 Peter 4:12-13; Romans 5:3). This way we can comfort others as He comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:4).
We are His little children, and He enables us to overcome sin, because of His presence within us (1 John 4:4). Since He is in us, and we are in Him and obey His Word, His life and love are perfected in us (1 John 2:5). Nothing can ever separate us from God's love for us (Romans 8:35).
We rejoice in our hope in Him, we let patience have her perfect work in us, and we pray without ceasing (Romans 12:12). Eventually, we come through the fire as pure gold, and as authentic Believers who give Him praise, glory and honor all the days of our life (1 Peter 1:5-7).
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that the suffering that we endure during this time in this perverted, sinful world are overshadowed by the resulting glory that is revealed in us both now and in eternity (Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 5:9). Thank You for loving us enough to discipline us, and to welcome us to Your heart as cherished children (Hebrews 12:6-8; Hebrews 12:11). It is only fitting and right for us to offer our self to You as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You as our spiritual act of worship (Luke 22:31; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:24).
With the help of Your Holy Spirit living and working within us to perfect us, we put to death those traits in us that are still drawn to the world and to ungodliness (Romans 7:17). Christ rises to His full glory in us as our Day Star, and He leads us out of darkness into Your glorious Light (2 Peter 1:19). Our sin nature is put to death, and we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6, 8:9-10). We look forward to serving with You for eternity (2 Timothy 2:12).
Thought for the Day:
The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, and the fullness of this power abides within us; the grace of God brings us salvation for eternity, teaches us to reject the draw of sin and to live a spirit-controlled life, and eventually fulfills our hope in Him at His glorious appearing.
- Romans 8:11; Titus 2:11-14
