To him who overcomes . . . —Revelation 2:7

Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.

Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.

And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33). This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, “. . . but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.

Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.

________________________________________________________________________

December 4, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I am not really certain what Chambers was trying to say here, but the thread of a lesson has been working its way into my mind over the last few days; that struggles and trials are essential for spiritual maturity.  There was a time when I believed that life was supposed to be day to day living without pain, fear, anxiety or trials. And that if there was hardship then there must be something amiss. I must be doing something wrong, and perhaps You even abandoned me.

And God says…”It is a very important lesson to learn. It is like a demonstration of courage.  Courage is not acting as if you have no fear; courage is doing the right thing, taking the right action even in the midst of fear. Abundant living is not living without trouble, trials, fears or pain. Abundant living is the act (s) of living in Jesus and His abundant life even in the midst of trials, doubt and uncertainty.  You may still have difficult circumstances, and be pressed upon all around, but when you surrender it all to Jesus, you still can live an abundant life. And as you look back you will notice that those difficult times were the very sandpaper and whetstones that shaped you into the person I knew you to be. Do not try and get out of your trials too soon. Let them have their perfect result. You must feel the hurts, pain and trials for them to have their very positive result in you. And never fear; I am with you always and will allow nothing to touch you that has not first passed through My hands.”

• Previous Entry: “Not by Might nor by Power”
• Next Entry: “The Temple of the Holy Spirit”