A Godly life begins with accepting Christ as your personal savior (salvation). But that's only the beginning. Godly living is a life-long commitment that must be practiced on a daily basis. Living by God's laws and cultivating an intimate relationship with Him is wise.

Godly living involves being concerned with what God thinks of our decisions and how we live every aspect of our lives. It involves being attentive to His will for our overall lives. It involves disciplining the self through the power of the Holy Spirit. It involves progressive submission and surrender of one area after another in our lives. As people of God we are required to be patient; to be long-suffering. We're required to live so as not to offend others. We're required to deny ourselves. We're required to bring our bodies into subjection. We're required to be living sacrifices to God. We're required to control our tongues. We're required to have control over our sexual drives. We're required to be examples of Godliness. We're required to be light in this dark world. We're required to stand steadfastly against temptation and anything that is in opposition to Godly ends. We are told these things for our own good. God is the only route through which we can aspire to our highest pinnacle as human beings.

Godly living is not always easy in a world that is inherently anti-God. But the benefits are vast and far-reaching. The benefits apply to this life and the life to come.

Not all believers will reap the many benefits that are available to them. Sadly, many believers never go beyond salvation. They never leave infancy to move on to mature Godly beings. They are stagnate and ineffective in their faith. Therefore, they continue to suffer many of the ills that the unsaved suffer. Such Christians, although they are saved continue to be dominated by the flesh (old sin nature) and not by the Spirit. Although the Spirit of God has taken ownership of them through their faith in Christ, they have not allowed themselves to be "controlled" by the Holy Spirit. Because of this they are unable to access the benefits associated with being under the Holy Spirit's control.

All Christians are royalty. But not all of us live like it. Many Christians are still playing in the pigsty like the Prodigal Son. Yes, they will benefit greatly just from salvation alone. But there are other benefits acquired only by those Christians who persevere beyond salvation to a life long commitment to spiritual growth and development; constantly moving deeper and deeper into intimacy with the Lord.

Benefits common to all believers

1. Heaven awaits us after death.
2. The Holy Spirit lives within us.
3. We have a Heavenly army of angels behind us.
4. We are under Heavenly protection.
5. Nothing can happen to us without God's consent.
6. We are victorious.
7. We have overcome the world.
8. We are saints -- we are God's elect.
9. We are children of God -- we are friends of God.
10. Through our faith we have access to His grace.
11. We are the righteous of God.
12. We are more than conquerors through our Lord.
13. We will reign with Christ.
14. We are forgiven.
15. We are redeemed.
16. We are reborn -- old things have passed away -- we are new creatures.
17. His mercies to us are new every morning.
18. We have an advocate.
19. The Spirit makes requests for us knowing our needs.
20. We are the Potter's clay.
21. We are His sheep - He is our Shepherd.
22. His arms are open wide to us.
23. He hears our prayers.
24. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
25. We have God's seal of ownership until redemption day.
26. God is faithful to us.
27. We are justified through faith, not by works.

Benefits of a mature, Godly believer

1. God leads our lives into what's best for us.
2. The Holy Spirit guides us and ministers to us.
3. God refines us into the best we can be when we submit.
4. We can defend ourselves against Satan's attacks.
5. We can stand strong against temptation.
6. We are no longer slaves to the Evil One.
7. We don't live under the bondage of the sinful nature.
8. Rewards in Heaven await us for righteous living.
9. We have fellowship with the Master.
10. The Lord molds us and makes us more like Himself.
11. The Lord answers our prayers - the effective fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much.
12. He supplies us with power.
13. He teaches us humility, patience, endurance, long-suffering, discipline, and wisdom.
14. He teaches us to love properly.
15. He teaches us how to protect ourselves in this world.
16. He teaches us to deny ourselves, and in so doing, we learn self-control.

(These are vital lessons learned by those who allow themselves to be trained and discipled by the Spirit).

17. We are recipients of His blessings.
18. Peace, joy, and happiness are by-products of a heart submitted to God
19. Our eyes are open -- we no longer live in deception.
20. We possess the proper worldview.
21. We have discernment through a right relationship to God and through feeding on His word.
22. We are co-laborers with God.

- Lori Hedgespeth

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