Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Father God, on this side of eternity it is so easy for me to be caught up in all I don’t have and long to have in this world that I forget what I do have in Christ. When my attention is so focused on what my neighbors and coworkers have, when I am enthralled and captivated by what the television ads portray as the “good life,” when I fantasize about what life could be like if I had a little bit more this or that, I can find myself feeling that my life falls short of satisfying. I am learning more and more every day that looking outside of myself and holding what “good” is as defined by the world in comparison to what I have, I will always fall short of that standard.
Yet, my soul leaps with joy today because what the world defines as good I know it is not good at all! In Christ Jesus, You have promised me every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)! And I have been given everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 3:5)! In Him, by Him and through Him, I have access to You and all the heavenly blessings that You have for those who love You! In Christ, my life is complete! And what makes this so remarkable is that You chose me before the foundation of the world, seeing me and knowing my need, selected me out of the mix, to be a recipient of Your love! I don’t understand how that could be, but it is! Hallelujah!
As I walk into this weekend, it is my prayer that You would continue to remind me of the good, perfect, and wonderful blessings that I have in my Savior. Lord, it is my heartfelt prayer that I would see this world for what it truly is – smoke and mirrors – and that I would continue to grow in my understanding what I have in Jesus. Don’t let me get caught up in what I don’t have. But instead, remind me at every turn what I do have in You. As the song from my childhood goes, “I don’t possess houses or land, fine clothes or jewelry. The troubles and cares, of this old world, my life seems to be. But I have Christ all in my life and this makes me happy. Christ is all, all and all, this world to me!” Amen!
Well, I don′t posses houses or land
Fine clothes or jewelry
Sorrows and cares in this whole world my light seems to be
But I have a Christ who paid the price
Way back on Cavalry
And, oh, He’s all, all and all this world to me