Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous (Psalms 112:4).  I love the scripture Psalms 112:4 because it highlights the fact that God calls all Christians upright. We are not upright by our own doing, but by the graciousness, compassion, and righteousness of Jesus Christ.  When we become Christians, the light of Christ and God’s Word begin to dispel darkness so we can see a different path.     The narrow path that leads to Christian living, a life of prosperity (Matthew 7:14).   As we follow the path, we need to obtain and practice the attributes of trusting God, having a renewed mindset, being a cheerful giver and vocalizing proper speech.

Christian living: Unto the upright ariseth light in the darkness

I would like to ask you a few questions.   Is your life where you want it to be right now?  Is it satisfying and pleasing to you?  Are you living a prosperous Christian life?   If you answered no to the above questions maybe it’s time to look at your lifestyle.   Your lifestyle should be a reflection of your faith.  You could be living in fear and not by faith.

There are only two high powers in this world, God, and Satan.  Satan’s path is crooked, and it operates by fear.  He casts a wide net to capture as many people as he can and hold them in bondage and spiritual darkness.  The path to God and His kingdom operates by faith.  God’s Kingdom is far superior and more powerful than Satan’s.  God’s path is strait and narrow because there is only one entry point.  That entry point is through Jesus Christ.

Please note that Satan cannot stop anyone from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  However, he uses fear, spiritual blindness and deception to convince some candidates that salvation is out of their reach, so they remain in bondage.  Other candidates accept Jesus as Lord, yet they are still struggling with life issues and are wondering why.

When we choose to become Christians, our lifestyles and the way we do things should change.  Before being saved, we were operating by fear. In other words, we were doing things in our strength and power.  We were doing what we thought was right, correct and convenient.   Our level of trusting God, mindsets, giving and speech have brought us to the lifestyle we are experiencing today.  When you got saved, did our actions reflect a life of faith or did it continue being controlled by fear?  So you ask, how do I stop operating in fear and get to prosperous Christian living?   I’m glad you asked!

Path to Christian Living: Trusting God

Let’s see what God’s word says about trusting Him:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

We confessed with our mouth and believed in our hearts that Jesus was Lord when we were saved.  We were saying I trust you, Jesus!  Now we have to do just that.  Trust Him with everything.  The decisions we use to make on our own, we can now make with Jesus.  No more doing things in our strength and power.  He is there to guide us along the path He has already predestined for us.  He had a plan for us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb, just as He had for the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:5  Amplified Bible (AMP)
⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],
And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];
I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Trusting Him in all things, even the small stuff, will bring you into an abundant life.

Path to Christian Living: Mindset

Now comes renewing the mind.  We have to change the way we think.   Now that we are part of God’s kingdom we should no longer mimic the things of the world.  There are some things we should just let go of such as: worrying, stressing,  doubting, fear, envying, jealousy, strife, pride, etc.

Romans 12:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 4:6-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Now you should be meditating on what God says about you:

Think on these things!

Path to Christian Living: Giving

Do you have a giving spirit?  Do you give to help others?  I’m not just talking about money, but your time and talents also.  Giving plays a big part in where you are now in your life.  We have to share what God has blessed us with to grow.  He has given us gifts and talents not just for us but to help others as well.  When we do that we will be helping to fulfill His covenant.  When we bless others secretly, God blesses us openly.

Matthew 6:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. ² When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. ³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When we give to the poor (alms), we are doing it for God, and He sees us when we do it.  That pleases Him.  He has blessed you to be a blessing.  So open your hands and let the talents and gifts God has blessed you with out and receive the blessings and rewards He has for you in.  A closed hand can’t receive!

Path to Christian Living: Speech

Our speech is very important.  The words we release from your mouth can either bless us or curse us.  Are you living a blessed life today or a cursed one?

Proverbs 18:21 King James Version (KJV)
²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Luke 6:45 New Living Translation (NLT)
⁴⁵ A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

 Words give death or life wherever, whenever and to whatever they are spoken.   They also reveal what’s in our heart.  Speak life to yourself and to others.   Changing your speech changes your heart which changes your life.

Learn more about Christing living

By Gwen Mosbey, co-founder
eLearn Life Skills, LLC

Founded in 2017, Kingdom’s Life Support is the Christian Life brand of eLearn Life Skills, LLC.  ELearn Life Skills’ mission is to develop and distribute e-learning and classroom education that empowers students to enjoy a higher quality of life and increased business success.