It happens all over this earth, billions of times every week - and daily, for many. The weekend's over, and you pry your eyes open early Monday morning to face a depressing new day and workweek. Drudgery awaits. As soon as you get to work, you can't help but to longingly pine for next weekend's break to arrive. And so life goes.
But if you're born again, let me ask you something: Why? "Why what?" Why are you drudging through your life like that? "Like what?" Like that, in drudgery? Don't you yet realize that you've got a Friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; Proverbs 27:10; Isaiah 41:8; John 15:15) with benefits? And I'm not just talking about some weak, capricious positive philosophical mindsets here and there. (Now, please don't misunderstand me; positive thinking is good - it's certainly better than negative thinking or no thinking at all.) No, I mean BENEFITS! Benefits that come with - are part and parcel of - the salvation of the Lord (2 Chronicles 6:41; Psalm 3:8, 68:20, 91:16).
The benefits of being in Christ Jesus are recorded all throughout the Bible. But, just in case you need them handy (and who of us doesn't), they're encapsulated in Psalm 103 so that we can remind ourselves daily - uh huh, daily. (God's mercies renew - they begin again in fulness to us - every morning! [Lamentations 3:22-23] Of course, that's not to mean they started runnin' a little short around 10 p.m. last night. It's just a description of His over-the-top love for each and every one of us - you included.) Verse 2 of that Psalm exhorts us not to forget any of them - to keep our thoughts and attention focused on those wonderful advantages.
What are they? Well, just taking verses 3 through 7 for starters, forgiveness from all of our sins (and, remember, all means all). And, healing from all of our diseases (see contents of previous parentheses!). Separation from any and all types of destruction that may come against your life and well-being - large or small. The loving kindness and the tender mercies of God surrounding you at all times - that's grace. He'll put good things (His own Words) into your mouth for you to speak, and your youth and vitality will be renewed. (Hey, God said it! Remember, we don't live by just bread alone; we live by every Word that proceeds out of His mouth [Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4].) He executes righteousness and justice in your situations for you. He'll make His ways known to you. (Undoubtedly you've heard the old saying, "God works in mysterious ways." Well, that may be so, but He'll nevertheless teach you how He operates.)
Are you kidding me?? Listen, I'm fully convinced that none of knows just how good we've got it! But that can be changed. Put the 103rd Psalm in front of you every day. Keep it in your heart and mind (Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 4:20-22). It'll not only wake you up to the full, it'll put a spring in your step wherever you go. And why not? If you stay in God's will for your life, everything you touch will turn to gold! (Deuteronomy 28:8, 12; Job 1:10)
Hail the Designers Finding and Building Upon Our Sense-Of-Self Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions Unspectacularly Supernatural
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