Abundant life is doing God's will, God's way, in God's time with God's power.
by Renee McClellan


"It's working, and it scares me to death!" I confided to my spiritual
advisor last week.
"What's working?" she inquired.
"Everything," I replied. "Maybe what I'm experiencing is joy!"
"What is working?" I mused later that afternoon. I've been on a spiritual adventure the last eleven years. It started with a silent prayer for more energy.

By trial and error I've developed a routine that works for me. I start my day by reading a daily devotional. Then I say a prayer where I turn my day and my way over to God. I give Him my marriage, my children, my pther re;ationships, my things, my attitude, and my schedule for the day. I ask Him to empower me to do His will, His way in His time.

My prayer while I shower is: "My creator, I trust you completely. I am entirely ready to have You remove any false beliefs, adjust any attitudes and remove any ineffective behavior that stands in the way of my usefulness to You and others. Empower me to know, love and serve You with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Empower me to cherish, protect and share my creativity and sensitivity. Empower me to be Your voice to the world directly, honestly and appropriately. Amen."

My half-hour prayer walk is my favorite part of my morning ritual.
As I walk down an asphalt road to a nearby creek, I repeat, "Speak , Lord, your servant is listening." I listen with my eyes, skin and nose as well as my ears. On the way back, half the time I repeat an affirmation, "Jesus empowers me, His Holy Spirit inspires me." The other half I spend praising God and praying for others.

As I get to my front door, I pray, "Do life through me, Lord-do woman, wife, mother, bookkeeper, and writer. I can't, You can, help me let You." With that, I make breakfast and get my two daughters off to school.

Since I work out of my home, I schedule rest time after lunch. I lay down for twenty to thiry minutes, focus on the cross on my bedroom wall and be with God.

When I go to bed at night, I read a short devotional and write a letter to Jesus. "Thank You," "Please advise," "I'm sorry," and HELP!" are my most frequent statements.

I realized recently that I spend approximately ten percent of my waking hours in prayer and meditation-I tithe my time. As a result, I seem to have the energy, desire and time to share my creativity and heart knowledge of God with others. I'm so very grateful for this tremendous joy God is giving me. The abundant life is possible. The plaque by Serenity Inc. I received as a gift years ago seems to say it all: "God saves the very best.....For those of us....Who leave the choice to Him."

Are you leaving the choice up to Him? If you do, you will experience His great joy...in abundanc


. . . Seek Me and live.
Amos 5:4


Action item: Write out a "Joy List" of those things that you appreciate about God's work in your life. Refer to it several times a day.

In His name and with His love, Kim Quile