The Abundant Life

John 10:10 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

What does that really even mean – the abundant life? The key to the original abundant life was unbroken fellowship with God. Adam fellowshipped with God in a close, intimate relationship. And now, because of Jesus Christ, we can again have a close, intimate relationship with God, and there is no greater relationship God can offer us than to adopt us as his own sons and daughters.

The pathway to the abundant life begins by being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. God justifies us through faith, which restores our fellowship with God and gives us eternal life.

It is mindboggling to consider all that it means that through our faith in Christ, we have become Children of God. But at the core of us being sons and daughters of God is the fact that we can once again have unbroken fellowship with God – which is the key to the abundant life.

Back in Genesis Chapter 3, Satan’s plan to destroy Adam and Eve’s abundant life was to break their fellowship with God. And what do you think Satan’s plan would be today regarding your abundant life in Christ? Satan’s plan to destroy your abundant life is the same as it was back in the Garden of Eden. His plan is to break your fellowship with God.

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed. He will tempt you and deceive you, just like he did in the Garden, and his goal is still the same – break your fellowship with God. Whether it’s through the lust of your eyes, the lust of this world, or the pride of life, your enemy’s goal is to break your intimate fellowship with God because he knows that is the key to your abundant life in Christ.

But, praise God! Because God has already provided for our victory even before the enemy’s first attack. In James 4:7-8 (ESV) the guaranteed victory plan is laid out. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. . .

Submit to God – Resist the devil – Draw near to God – and if you will, God has already guaranteed your victory. The devil is not an equal power to God. He is a created being who still must answer to God. God has promised us throughout the Bible if we will resist the devil and turn to God that we will be victorious in every spiritual battle. And that victory means that our fellowship with God is protected, and that unbroken fellowship with God is the key to the abundant life in Christ.

I promise you, the abundant life flows from unbroken fellowship with God, which involves every single area of your life. Fellowship means; companionship, relationship, unity, sharing, and giving and receiving. That is fellowship with God! That is the source of the abundant life. Anything you could classify as the true abundant life will come through your unbroken fellowship with God.

So, here are the basics for daily fellowship with God, which will lead to the abundant life.

#1) DAILY PRAYER
We’ve got to PRAY - daily, regularly, without ceasing. Prayer is two-way intimate communion with God. And so, we have got to develop a consistent prayer life. And writing your prayers in the Alone with God Journal is really powerful.

#2) DAILY WORSHIP
We’ve got to choose to worship God every day. Worship causes you to focus on God, instead of yourself. I’d really encourage you to listen to worship music. I’d also encourage learning to meditate on the Psalms and writing your thoughts of worship in your journal.

#3) DAILY WORD
We’ve got to read God’s Love Letter to us every day. Read a section slowly and carefully, listening for God to speak through his Living Word.  This is where the Alone with God Journal really shines. It is designed to help you Meditate on God's Word, Apply God's Word, and Respond to God's Word. And when you do that, in a quiet place, alone with God, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it will absolutely transform your life.

This is the way to the abundant life. I pray each of us will commit to “walk in” in the abudant lifestyle day by day. But in order to do that, we must place our lives completely in God’s hands – daily. We must choose daily to crucify our independent and self-willed nature, and instead, we must choose to walk in constant fellowship with God. And if we will, then we can be confident that God will be with us. He will lead, guide, protect, and provide – and then we really will be living the “abundant life.”
 
Questions: Do you know Jesus better today than you did one year ago? Are you walking closer with him and responding more naturally to his leading? What would it take for you to implement the three steps of daily prayer, daily worship, and daily Word?

Prayer: Lord, we desire the abundant life you came to give us. We know it is not material in any way but is a taste of what Heaven will be like, which is the ultimate unbroken fellowship with God. Help us to develop these disciplines in our lives so that we can have true daily, unbroken fellowship with you. Help us to always keep our eyes on you and on the promise of Heaven. In your mighty name, Jesus, amen.