Sustenance

Philippians 3:7-10
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.


Have you ever had one of those mornings when you got dressed and thought, "Bedtime can't come soon enough today!" Or on those weary days waves of emotion rise that cause you to think," I can't do this anymore."

I have these moments. They seem to be coming more frequently. When they occur two words merge in my mind:

chronic-persisting for a long time or constantly recurring; long-lasting and difficult to eradicate 

sustenance-food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment: the maintaining of someone or something in life or existence. 

Sometimes when  thoughts get jumbled and emotions get carried away the nagging of chronic trumps the significance of sustenance. Why?  Is it the chronic pain? Is it the fatigue from the constant burning feeling of numbness and tingling? Is it spastic intercostal muscles that won't allow the rib cage to expand properly causing  hypoxic dizziness and panic? Something other than Christ has captivated me. I have begun to focus on my external circumstances. No longer is the gospel intersecting my heart, changing me and rearranging me. I have let the battle over take me forgetting that the war has been won. Christ is the victor. He is the sustenance that trumps the chronic.

Dear reading friend, as I ponder chronic and sustenance I find my thoughts migrating toward a far more serious chronic condition than physical disease - the spiritual disease of unbelief! The billowing waves of unbelief cause a chronic and very serious heart condition that gets deeply entwined in sin. Do I trust that the God of the universe is completely in control of my circumstance? Have I lost sight of the fact that He has custom designed my life and circumstances as a means to draw me closer to Him? Would I rather be gripped by the chronic or feast at the banquet table of sustenance?

I need to repent, reorient, and rearrange my thinking toward the precious beauty and purpose of redemption. I need to drink deeply from the well of living water. I need to feast on the rich truths of God's Word. And when I do, I find chronic sustenance that gives sufficient satisfaction in knowing "How Sweet The Name of Jesus Sounds." Rest and peace!