Weekly Overview:
Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we have been afforded an opportunity to live an incredibly abundant life here on earth. Our God is nearer, more tangible, and has a greater ability to make his presence known than we’ve yet realized. He longs to make his children more in tune and aware of the depths of his love, guidance, empowerment, and nearness. He longs for our days here on earth to be marked by unveiled communion with him. As we look at what it is to live an abundant life here on earth, I pray that your heart will be awakened to the reality of God’s presence and affection in your life.
Scripture:“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4
Devotional:
Too often we as believers settle for lives less than what God intends for us. God has the desire and ability to do far greater than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). He longs for us to live healed, transformed, and set free from the bonds of sin and slavery to the world. As we look at God’s plans for healing, transformation, and freedom today, I pray that you will be filled with a hunger for the fullness of life available to you in Christ Jesus.
Jesus spent most of his ministry doing powerful works of physical and emotional healing. And once he ascended to heaven he passed on the ministry of healing to his disciples and empowered them to do even greater works (John 14:12). God has never stopped his pursuit of healing the ailments and hearts of those he loves.
Too often we allow the wounds of this world to settle in our hearts and dictate the way we live our lives. We agree with the lie that the pains of our past are just part of life and that true courage is taking what has hurt us, pulling ourselves up with our own strength, and pressing forward. The heart of our God is for the healing of those wounds. Psalm 147:3 plainly says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” God longs to meet you at the place of your wounds and provide healing today. He longs to reveal to you his heart for your pain, fill you with his loving presence, and walk with you through the process of healing. Choose healing for your wounds today that you might live with more abundant joy and peace instead of heartache and pain.
Our God is a God of transformation. He loves us where we are but cares for us too deeply to let us live with the lies, perspectives, and pursuits that rob us from the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” God longs to renew your mind to the truth of his love, nearness, power, and grace. He longs to transform you into a better reflection of Jesus that you might live to the fullest. He longs to fill you with longings and passions that will guide you to a life of purpose and eternal impact. Say yes to being transformed by God’s Spirit and word that you might experience the abundant life only available in God.
Lastly, God longs for you to live this life freed from the sins and ways of this world. 1 Peter 2:16 says, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Freedom has been bought for you by the blood of the Lamb. You are no longer a slave to this world but a slave to righteousness. In the Holy Spirit you have freedom from every past pursuit and present temptation if you will simply follow his guidance into a lifestyle of righteousness. Choose freedom today. Choose to follow the Spirit away from that which will lead you to sin and toward that which will fill you with a longing for holiness.
Take time in guided prayer to meditate on Scripture and pursue wholeheartedly a lifestyle of healing, transformation, and freedom with the help of your heavenly Father.
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on the importance and availability of living healed, transformed, and freed.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16
2. Where do you need healing, transformation, and freedom today?
3. Ask the Lord for whatever it is you need. Trust in his goodness and have faith that he will provide for you everything you need when you ask it of him.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
May we not be children who settle for anything less than all our heavenly Father has for us. May we listen to and receive all the wealth of truth, love, and grace our God longs to lavish upon us. Pursue with your whole heart the life God intends for you. And live today out of the revelation that your God is leading you to stiller waters and greener pastures than you have yet known.
Extended Reading: Psalm 103
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