Fantastic, full of the joy of the Lord, and things couldn’t be any better! How often do you hear that as the answer to the question, “how are you”? Quite often there is a litany of negative responses, which include, busy, rushed, stressed, overworked and underpaid, bushed, or swamped. What a different world we would live if our usual answer was, my bucket is overflowing with joy! If we have an answer like that we are saying that we are have a positive outlook, and are feeling energetic and my life is thriving. I really believe God wants us to live that way; He wants abundant life for us. He has provided everything we need to live a life that is joyful and abundant in every realm on this earth, even though our earth has a curse. If we realize that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil as it says in I John 3:8, and we know the devil is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy, then the answer is obvious that God has provided for us to live a wonderful life on this earth in spite of our circumstances. Most of us live way beneath our privilege as Christians; so let’s change that. We can live in the inheritance Jesus left for us. We can experience the blessing of God that he promised Abraham. We can enjoy the best life that God has to offer. We can have a taste of heaven on earth. It definitely doesn’t come without pursuing it, or contending for it! Ephesians 6 tells us to stand, and then when we have done all, to keep on standing. We are even given offensive and defensive weapons to use when the enemy comes against us. So let’s be those who live in the blessing, filled with the joy of the Lord. Let’s be those who receive and accept the inheritance God has for us. Let’s be those who live above the noise, above the crowd, above the rush of the world, and hear the voice of God calling us to rest in Him, and in the joy that He provides. Let His voice speak words of healing and peace to your soul. Then when you are asked the question, “how are you?” you can reply that life couldn’t be better. Life is wonderful! My joy bucket is full!