There are some who live and yet they live a life full of death. They feel like they are a victim of circumstances. They feel that life had been unfair to them. They are the ones who will have an excuse for everything they cannot do. They are the ones of have a reason for not trying again. They live a life ruled by circumstance. They become bitter, fearful, full of self-pity. They may become angry and resentful. They become jealous and envious of those who seem to achieve what eludes them. They are people who may live but are truly dead.
There are others who despite many obstacles find a way to overcome the challenges. They are the ones who will say “Never quit! Never surrender! Never give up!” They understand that there can be many difficulties in life but life is still full of hope and opportunity. They are the ones who will always keep trying. They are the ones who believe that there is a way out. They live a life where the challenges strengthen them. They become strong. They have hope, power, faith, love, joy and peace. They become an encouragement and an inspiration to others. They look to others who have achieved what they cannot with the hope and trust, that “if they could do it, so can I”. These people may be surrounded and challenged by death but they live.
And here is the hard teaching… some of you may quit reading right now. It is our decision to live or die. We choose to live life fully as overcomers or we choose to embrace death as victims. Whether we live or we die, it is our choice. The Psalmist understood this. He made a choice to live. “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (Psalm 118:17, NIV84) When we choose to live and that by the power of God our entire lives become a testimony and a proclamation of the goodness of God.
How do we change? How do we move from death to life? The first step is to agree with the Psalmist. “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (Psalm 118:17, NIV84) The first step is to make a choice to live. The first step is to recognize that God wants you to live and He wants your life to become a living proclamation of His goodness and His live. Your life, chosen to be full of life will become an encouragement and source of life to others.
Once we make the choice to live and to not die, then we must find the strength and the power to live. We must learn and grow into overcoming people. The path to overcoming is obedience to God’s Word. His Word is LIFE. His Word is POWER. He is the source of LIFE! God’s Word becomes to source and the sustenance of our life. “Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” (Psalm 119:116, NASB95)
Our obedience to the Word then reveals the source of LIFE, God Himself. Obedience to the Word opens doors of life into our lives. God’s mercy and compassion empower us to live. “O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant. May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.” (Psalm 119:76–77, NASB95)
When we grasp the love and desire of God to empower us to live, we begin to believe that the promises of God are true for us. We start to pray with faith. We begin to learn that is is God’s promises that preserve and grow the life in us. It is the promise of God that enables us to live. “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalm 119:49–50, NIV84)
One thing we must remember. Our lives are not our own. We live for the purpose and the glory of God. We live so that we can proclaim the Love of God to others. We live so that others who are bound by death can also live. “Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:17, NASB95)
Only those who a truly alive can truly praise God. Only those who have experienced the life and the love and the mercy of God can humble themselves and acknowledge that God alone is the source of life. “Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.” (Psalm 119:175, NASB95)
It is your choice. Will you live or will you die? I choose life.
“”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, NASB95) — Jesus
| Ingrid Hansen has published several books available on Amazon.com.
More information can be found on the main website ingrid-hansen.info.
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