I often find that I have read or even memorized verses, but have not really allowed their meaning to fully penetrate my life. Romans 8:1 is one of those verses. There is no longer any condemnation for me as a Christian. None. I will have...no...I already have eternal life...secure...no question...I will live forever with the Lord. If I really fully understood that concept, joy would inevitable invade my whole demeanor. Yet I don't live out of joy as often as I should. I allow the worries of the day to dampen my joy...I allow my mind to dwell on things of this earth rather than the things above. Paul gives the whole secret of the abundant life right here in this chapter! All I have to do is set my mind on the things of the Spirit. But what does that mean? First of all, for me it means starting the day in the Word of God. There is no better way to set the mind on something than to read and meditate on it. But honestly, that isn't enough for me. I need reminders throughout the day, and that's where I will fall short. I'm still learning how to inject those reminders because my natural default is to set my mind on the world around me. But thanks to the Lord, He gives me those reminders in the form of beauty that surrounds me. I just have to be sensitive enough to pick up on those reminders and thank Him for what He has done for me.

Romans 8:1