He is Able to Subdue

For our citizenship is in heaven
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body
that it may be conformed to his glorious body,
according to the working
by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren,
my joy and crown,
so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
Philippians 3:20-21, 4:1, NKJV

Jesus is in heaven, and I'm here on earth. One day, Jesus is coming back for me, and I'm going back to heaven with him. I will no longer be bound by the world or this flesh, no longer beset with temptation and trial, no longer living in the shadow of death. This mortal flesh will be cast off for immortality, this corruptible flesh cast off for incorruption. When Jesus comes back for me, I will truly and completely be changed forevermore.

Down here, I have been born again. Old things have passed away; all things have been made new. I'm a new creation. My old self, my old life, my old ways--these have died, and my life is hid with Christ in God. In Christ I am a new creature. In Christ, I have been put to death on the cross; crucified, and yet I live. Not really me, but Christ who lives in me, and this life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. I am walking in faith, walking in the Spirit, walking in the liberty that salvation brings. I am walking in life, and that more abundantly.

But I am not perfect. If anybody knows that, I certainly do. And God knows. God knows when my mind wanders, when my heart strays, when I kick against the goads. God knows when I'm in His will, and when I'm trying to step out of it. And still He loves me. Still He strives with me. Still He reaches out to me, for God is not willing that I should perish, but that I should live in repentance and have eternal life. He is long-suffering, and thank Him that He is. I need alot of patience from Him sometimes.

His power is at work in me now, giving me strength to do what needs to be done. His Spirit is at work in me now, greater than anything that is in this world. His Word is at work in me now, alive and powerful and sharper than any sword, cutting away the things that don't belong, exposing the things that need to be excised and removing them from me. He renews my mind, He restores my soul. He is changing me one day at a time, drawing me closer to be conformed to His image and likeness. In this life I will never be complete, but the day is coming when this life will be over and done with. Either through death or the rapture, I shall escape this mortal coil and enter into life everlasting in the presence of my Lord. And then I shall be complete. Then I shall be perfect. Then I shall be whole.

Until then, I will put my faith, my hope, my confidence and trust in the One who works in me, who by His power and authority is able to bring all things under control. By His almighty hand, He will subdue all things to His will, and I know that my existence will be much simpler if I choose to submit myself to Him now, rather than having to do it later. So Lord, I give up. Again. I surrender myself to You, to Your will, to Your way for my heart and life today. Whatever You're doing, I know You'll do it well--far better than I myself could.

And there I will stand.