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Imagine going to the doctor and having this conversation with him:

Doctor: (As he gives you an odd look) What can I do for you today?

You: I just don’t feel very well. I have trouble breathing.

Doctor: How long have you had these symptoms?

You: My entire Christian life.

Doctor: (Reaches over and removes a small clamp from your nose) How about now?

You: (Taking a deep breath as a broad smile stretches across your face) Much better! Thanks, doc!

This silly story illustrates my condition before discovering three essential elements of the Christian life. I was saved but not living life to the full as Jesus said we should in John 10:10.

Let me share with you the three things I discovered that removed the ‘clamp’ from my spiritual life, allowing me to breathe freely and experience the abundant life Christ promised.

The Three Essentials of a Thriving Christian Life

1- The Mind of Christ

The “mind of Christ” concept is essential to understanding how our attitudes and actions should be transformed as Christians. It’s crucial to recognize that you cannot have the mind of Christ without also knowing who you are in Christ.

As a Christian, please grasp that you are significant, accepted, and secure.

This understanding changes your outlook on life, providing a foundational truth that anchors you in the storms, protects you from the enemy’s attacks, and enables you to love others more fully. Unfortunately, many Christians flounder in their daily lives despite anticipating the joys of Heaven.

I was such a Christian until two events occurred:

1 — I read Neil Anderson’s defining book, Victory Over the Darkness, which deconstructed my dysfunctional thinking and laid a confident foundation and

2 — I committed to reading the Bible daily, fortifying my belief in God’s faithfulness.

The mind of Christ sustains me. I can’t live without it. I also can’t live without …

2 -The Leadership of the Holy Spirit

Even though I strive to have the mind of Christ, I still face daily struggles. I often find myself being short-tempered with my wife, making sarcastic comments to my son, and being tempted in many ways. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, correction, and prompting, I couldn’t navigate these challenges effectively. While some Christians may disregard the Holy Spirit, I greatly value His presence and guidance in my life, as I depend on it entirely to help me overcome my weaknesses and stay on the right path.

I’m toast without the leadership of the Holy Spirit. And I’m wrecked without the …

3 — The Faithfulness of God

It only took one look from my wife to feel like I had been hit in the gut. Tears streaming down my face, I fell to my knees, struggling to catch my breath. She had just learned that our unborn baby was suffering from lung tumors, and without a miracle, our baby wouldn’t survive. Our only option was to pray and hope for the best. Thankfully, God answered our prayers, and our adult daughter has grown into a talented writer.

God’s faithfulness has been evident — from saving our daughter’s life to healing our son’s cleft palate to providing me with a job when I was in desperate need. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness reminds me that I am not alone, even in the most trying times. Despite feeling crushed, confused, and oppressed at times, I’ve always found peace in knowing I am not abandoned or destroyed.

God is always faithful.

It’s a Process

Acquiring the mind of Christ, yielding to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and understanding God’s faithfulness don’t all converge and descend upon you on your day of salvation. The process has worked in my life over the past 25 years, and the Lord still isn’t done with me. Thankfully.

I can’t live without Him.

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