Jun 29
Today’s Truth
My purpose is to give life in all its fullness (John 10:10 TLB).
Friend to Friend
I have discovered some wonderful advantages of growing older. Honestly, I can get away with so much more than I could when I was younger – and I love it!
Like many of you, I have paid some heavy life dues. I am enjoying a refreshing freedom in what I say and do – as long as I say and do it in love and with integrity before God.
I am flat-out amazed by the fact that people value my advice. They actually think I know what I am doing. Hilarious! I know!
But I am thrilled to share some of the God-truths I have learned along the way. I’m also free to occasionally respond with a hearty “I don’t have a clue what you should do.” No guilt. No shame. Just being real.
Yes, I have aches and pains that I really could do without, but that is why God has gifted doctors and counselors – because He knew we would need them. We live in broken bodies. Our world is broken. But until Jesus returns, I know He wants my feet to hit the floor each morning, ready to face and delight in the fullness of the life God created me to live.
Jesus said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 TLB).
One of my current personal life goals is to royally tick off Satan whenever I can. Some days, his feeble tactics make me laugh and I respond with, “Seriously, that’s it? That’s all you’ve got?”
On other days, I am on my face before God asking for strength to withstand the demonic attacks of hell itself. Either way, I win. I have read the whole Book, and we win!
My audience for this race of life has certainly changed over the years. I no longer give credence to those people who delight in leering at me through the fishbowl, waiting and watching for me to fall and fail so they can feel better about their own faults and failures.
Those people are not my audience. God is my audience – and He is crazy about me, cheering me on. Angels dance simply because I exist. I am God’s creation – and so are you.
We have choices to make with every passing season of life.
We can hang on to past accomplishments, using them as an excuse to sit and sour, or we can seek God, asking Him to use us in His Kingdom work.
We can rise each day to dance with joy simply because we know Him and He knows us, or we can focus on what is wrong in our lives and be miserable.
We can sing at the top of our lungs that God is more than enough for whatever comes our way, or we can sing the blues.
We can choose to give Him praise – even when it seems like there is nothing for which to praise Him, or we can sit down and let fear trample us in the dust of Satan’s hissings.
We can grow old in body, mind, and spirit, or we can serve Him with passion and purpose until we take our last breath.
What about you? Are you living each day to the fullest? Jesus is all about living an abundant life in the here and now … no matter how young or old you are. Eternity began the moment you submitted your life to Him.
Someone once said that life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take but by the moments that take our breath away. Let’s do this thing called life and let’s do it right!
Let’s Pray
Father, I do not want to stop living the life of purpose You created me to live. I choose to ignore those who would tell me to give up. I stand against the enemy who seduces me to quit the race when the obstacles seem impossible to overcome. No! I turn to You, Lord! I depend on You! I celebrate You, God! Until You come, I am Yours, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Let’s Keep in Touch
June 30, 2023, Girlfriends in God is coming to a close. Thank you for linking arms with us in ministry for the past 17 years. We still want to share life with you! Click here to continue receiving devotions from Sharon Jaynes on Tuesdays. Click here to continue receiving devotions from Mary Southerland on Wednesdays. Click here to continue receiving devotions from Gwen Smith on Thursdays.
Now It’s Your Turn
If you could choose one word to describe your life journey so far, what would it be? Explain.
What one commitment do you need to make today to live the life of purpose God created you to live?
More from the Girlfriends
We can learn to be joyful. We just have to choose to search for God’s hand prints in our daily life. Mary has a spiral bound journal, Joy for the Journey, that will help guide you to a place of contentment and joy. Check it out.
© 2023 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.
Thank you so much for this ministry! It has been such a blessing to me!
I guess my one word would have to be “action”. I’m not the type of person who waits for life to happen to me–I make things happen. I am an all-in kind of person. I don’t often do things half-heartedly, which has been a blessing and a curse. I am a recovering perfectionist who struggles to know when enough is enough. When I do something, I do it to the best of my ability. The problem is that I often forget to seek God’s help along the way. I might pray before starting an endeavor, but I get distracted by the world and can change focus from His will to mine; from His strength to my feeble attempts; from His wisdom to my ignorance.
Dear Father, remind me that You are always with me, eagerly awaiting my cry for help. Help me remember to always seek Your will and always obey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Mary, Great writing with inspiration!
One word? Hmmmm…..”seeking”.
I’m at an age where it should be a different word, but I was a prodigal daughter for many, many years. So much could have happened to me but it didn’t; God was waiting for my hurt, stubbornness to be done, so He could begin His work in me!
I love this quote from Chadwick Bosman, “When I stand before God at the end of my life; I would hope that I wouldn’t have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.”
I want to seek the heart of Jesus and be a representation of His Light and Service. So, I’d like to drop those reservations and fears given by the evil one, and remember Is 41:13, “For I, the Lord your God, holds your RIGHT hand: it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you”.
Thankyou, Mary for yet another devotion that speaks to me, personally, today! Over the years Girlfriends in God has consistently sent me into my day with just the right words to get through whatever comes my way. It has been such a blessing to journey with Carol and Mardiece and Sheila and all the other girlfriends from around the world. So amazing to be here in Australia, and to know that I’m part of His family! God bless you all.
Thank you Sue for your kind words of encouragement. I hope you will continue to join me in my weekly devotions by signing up here: https://marysoutherland.com/devotions/