ABUNDANCE

ABUNDANCE,    “WORTH CONSIDERING”     ( Found on my desk today.)

Today’s Scripture
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (John 10:10, NIV)  “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” AMPC

Created to Thrive
So many people today are living with a survival mentality instead of a thriving mentality. They have a mentality that says, “If I can just make it through…” or “If I can just get by…” Of course, there are some seasons that are more difficult than others. Sometimes it’s challenging to get a vision for the future. But if you are constantly living with a survival mentality, you are missing out on God’s best. Scripture doesn’t say, “Jesus came so you could survive.” No, it says that He came to give you a full, abundant life!

If you are living in survival mode right now, today can be your turning point. If you’ll take a step of faith and begin to declare, “My days of survival are over; my days of thriving have begun,” I believe God will meet your faith. I believe He will open an unexpected door. He’ll pour out His favor and blessing on you. He’ll make a way where there seems to be no way! Even if you’re in a tough time right now, remember that tough times don’t last, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. Begin to declare what God says about your circumstances because you are created for more than to just get by—you are created to thrive!

A Prayer for Today
“Father God, thank You for giving me abundant life through Jesus Christ. I believe that You have a good plan for my future. I declare that my days of thriving have begun as I continue to put my faith and trust in You alone in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My thoughts:
Abundant is used more than 44 times in the AMPC and 64 times in the King James.  An interesting study.
Amplified:  The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).  The word abundance is used in conjunction with beauty, honor, grace, affection, blessings, rejoicing,  and mercy.  It seems we should be spilling this stuff out this ABUNDANCE all over the place.  When you have an abundance of groceries the bags usually break.

Of course, the tricky part is,  “how do we turn it on?”  How do we really really get from feeling dried up to abundance?  James 5:12-19 (16) gives us a clue.  ¹² But above all [things], my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath; but let your yes be [a simple] yes, and your no be [a simple] no, so that you may not sin and fall under condemnation.  ¹³ Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God].  ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name.  ¹⁵ And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  ¹⁶ Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].  ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.  ¹⁸ And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. ¹⁹ [My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from the Truth and falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God],²⁰ Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a sinner from his evil course will save [that one’s] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins [^[a]procure the pardon of the many sins committed by the convert].  (NOW READ AGAIN FOR UNDERSTANDING…. !)  FAITH grows as we digest and deeply submit to the WORD OF GOD.

So if interested in an abundance from our Loving Creator,  pick up on what HIS interests are and help on the Spiritual side of things with HIS Kingdom.  In other words:  Matthew 6:33 [Full Chapter]  AMPC