GALATIANS 2:20.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

TO PONDER:

"Why does life have to be so hard?" It was a question that a newish Christian asked me recently as they struggled with some of the things that were happening in their life. It's a good question and one that Paul addresses in our verse today. Does life sometimes seem like a struggle to you? Do you find there are times when you lack courage or when you lose heart? Have you ever experienced sickness or failure? Have you encountered depression, doubt, loneliness or grief in your journey? This is the Christian life that is lived in the body. But it is not the whole story.

We also live by faith in God, the God who is with us, the God who is for us, the God who loves us and gives himself for us. It's Emmanuel, God with us, Christ's presence in us that makes it possible to live in the body with all its difficulties. It's Christ living in us that gives us strength to step into the day ahead boldly and full of hope, for there is nothing that you can encounter in your life today that is bigger than that God who loves, who gives himself for you and promises to be with you every step of the way.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, be the reason that I live boldly today whatever I encounter. Amen.