My word for the year is resurrection. Unpacking the impact of the resurrection on my life now and into eternity reveals the blessings of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In one word there contains eternal hope, unspeakable joy, and incomparable love.

We often focus on the future hope of resurrection, but it impacts our lives abundantly now.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin can be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin– because he who died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him… In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:5:11

Before walking with God through darkness, when I read these verse, I concentrated on myself being dead to sin, but now, because of esprit de corps, I embrace the truth that I am alive to God. Meaning because of what I have suffered (church wounding, grief, gossip, slander, back-biting, rejection from friends, etc.)  I feel with the Spirit and with Jesus an inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for God. I live with him! My faith is more real because my relationship has grown through suffering as I learned to walk in the Spirit. The life I now live is centered on the nonperishable blessings that will last into eternity. The blessing I seek from God are not earthly. I seek an enduring relationship whereby I count the blessing of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When I see these things in my life, I know that I am blessed.

As I focus on knowing Jesus (some call this discipleship) I can count my blessings even though everything around me feels like it is falling apart. Because my circumstances no longer define me, my God defines me, and as I live with him, I find eternal hope, unspeakable joy, and incomparable love.

Meditation: Esprit de corps definition is the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group.

Life Everlasting from John 3:14-16, 36;5:24; 10:27-29; 1 John 5:11-13

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son.

He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

These things I have written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.