"Navigate"

I think I’ve found a better way,

To navigate this road,

To live the words the scriptures say,

And ease life’s heavy load.

By that I mean trade stress for rest,

And faith in place of fear,

To seek to claim God’s very best,

Depend on grace so near.

Instead of worry always pray,

Relinquish every right,

Choose to die to self each day,

And walk full in the light.

Keep complaints reined in at least,

And learn to thankful live,

Encouragement by grace increased,

With good advice to give,

Don’t borrow future’s trouble,

Live one day at a time,

Let God clean up folks’ rubble,

His strength when steep the climb.

Forgive the ones who hurt you most,

Don’t ever hold a grudge,

To bitterness say adios,

Let God be the judge.

Don’t fear to walk the narrow way,

Let the Spirit be your guide,

Consistently praise when you pray,

Take trouble all in stride.

Share and show the love of Christ,

Look for the open door,

The Kingdom is not overpriced,

But worth the cross He bore.

And when you near the very end,

Go out with joy and grace,

With Jesus as the Friend of friends,

To finish strong the race.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7, NLT)

Accepting Jesus is the beginning of a life that revolves around the truth. As the Spirit enables us to apply the truth of scripture on a daily basis, our lives begin to bear spiritual fruit. Our faith, though tested, grows stronger, and our lives overflow with thankfulness. Unfortunately some believers stumble somewhere along the way and along life to steal their joy. But an overflowing life is what the Lord intends for all of us to experience. There are no exceptions. You can have it if you’re willing to live it.

Lord, help us to overflow with thankfulness, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mary Ross Buchholz, used by permission. Thanks, Mary, and God bless you.