u/JubilantCapybara

These feelings are the sense of death (Rom. 8:6) and in ourselves, we have no way to deal with death and are often overcome by it. But Christ has the keys of death and of Hades! He became dead and lived again! (Rev. 1:18) Here some more encouraging verses I enjoyed from the Recovery Version:

• Hebrews 2:14-15 "Since therefore the children have shared in blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil, and might release those who because of the fear of death through all their life were held in slavery."
• 2 Timothy 1:10 "But now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who nullified death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel."
• Acts 2:24 "Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, since it was not possible for Him to be held by it."
• 1 Corinthians 15:26 "Death, the last enemy, is being abolished."
• 1 Corinthians 15:54 "And when this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal will put on immortality, then the word which is written will come to pass, 'Death has been swallowed up unto victory.'"

As Christians we have this living One in us, and we can claim these divine facts whenever we feel the effects of death encroaching upon us!

First Thessalonians 1:9 says, "How you turned to God from the idols to serve a living and true God." I read this footnote from 1 Thessalonians 1:9 this morning:

>The living and true God is in contrast to the dead and false idols. God must be living and true to us and in us in our daily life, so that our present living will testify that the God whom we serve is living and true.

This made me pause and consider, is God real in my daily living? Do I contact God as I'm doing ordinary things, during my commute, as I'm cooking dinner, etc? If someone were to observe me, would they see that God is living and true? Or is He the same as a dead idol to me? This footnote encouraged me to pray today, "Lord, I want to spend this day with You. Remind me you're in my spirit all the time."