Do you know how to live well? How to have a blessed life? George Herbert states “Living well is the best revenge” encouraging us to move on with our lives after disappointments and concentrate in living well. An online dictionary tells us that well-being is “The state of being healthy, happy, or prosperous; welfare”. Probably something we all want. The ways we think we can achieve it varies from person to person. 
Living well for me is living according to God’s will. Because God knows what’s best for each of us. This does not mean prosperous living but authentic living. Real joy is different than earthly happiness. Living according to God’s will is not very popular but it is the only way we won’t lose our souls. Jesus said to his disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them. Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives?” (Matthew 16:24-26, CEB)
Living well is not an achievement but God’s grace. God is not promising us earthly riches or easy life. Instead, God invites us to the cross! But when we share the death with Christ we also share the resurrection with Christ! And that’s what Christian living and living well is all about: Walking with Risen Christ through our everyday life, in sickness and health, in sorrow and happiness.
The blessed life is not the absence of hard things in life
but being able to cast our sorrows to the Lord and receive peace.
The blessed life is about sharing our messy lives with the Risen Christ.
The blessed life is about opening our souls to God Almighty.
The blessed life is about dwelling in God’s wild but gentle grace.
We can join Simon Peter answering to Jesus: “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are God’s holy one.” (John 6:68-69, CEB)
Gracious God,
You do have the words of eternal life.
You are indeed holy, Lord!
Make us yours!
Make us like Jesus!
Abide in us!
Bless us and
guide us home!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: What does “living well” mean to you?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you share your life with the Risen Christ!
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Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment on any blog post this week (or any week during the blog tour). The winner will be announced again on Monday!
All these CEB giveaways are possible because I am participating in the Common English Bible Blog tour. Until the end of January I will mostly be using the Common English Bible (CEB) on my blog posts. Let’s check out this fresh new Bible translation!
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Image courtesy of Kendall Conner. This post was refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with Brag on God Friday.
