Lifetime Daily DevotionsSample

Simple, But Maybe Not Easy

Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
1 John 5:4

You may be thinking, Anabel, the answers that you give--the thoughts that you have--seem almost too simple. Over and over again you talk about Christ living in me, how I am living in Christ, how I must be aware of what's going on in my thought-life.

Are you saying that any problem I have, or any problem that anyone else has, can be met through Jesus Christ by incorporating these very simple truths?

Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. Any problem can be answered through Jesus Christ. If that is not true, then His death was in vain for all of us.

Of course, every problem is unique, and there are always practical steps that must be taken when dealing with a problem. But if you try to deal with it, to handle these practical steps by yourself instead of allowing Christ to do it for you, you're heading for frustration and disappointment. Not that everything will work out the way you want it to work out, but He will do it all for you.

Who would you rather be in control?

You or Him?

And remember, you are living in Him. What does that mean for you? That the circumstances you are in will not destroy you; that you are more than a conqueror, are totally accepted, loved beyond your ability to comprehend, and all of the other beautiful "in Christ" verses.

As to your thought-life: Remember that the Deceiver can defeat you in one way--only one. And that is through your thinking processes. That's why you need to be so alert to the thoughts that play around in your mind.

Perhaps the key word is control. God does not force us to walk with Him, for Him, or in obedience to Him. We can walk in rebellion and turn our backs on Him, grieving Him deeply. I am not a robot; neither is my husband, nor are my sons or any of the people in my life who might be the source of pain. I am a human being with the power to choose what I will set my mind on. It is, of course, a matter of accepting or rejecting thoughts.

It is not what comes into my life that makes or breaks me, but how I handle what comes into my life.