Life's better, lived before the face of God.

But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept.
 Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children: "And who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children that God saw fit to bless me with." Gem. 33:4,5
I'm learning practically that living in God's presence is key to peace, soul prosperity, and daily favor; if there is one mighty motivator to living barnacled to Jesus, it's our enemies. As Jacob had his haters so do you. Jacob felt tangibly the hatred of Esau. He lived with the shadow of Esau in his rear view mirror, wandering when Esau would pounce destroying him, his wives and progeny; I believe Jacob's fear was his friend; for his helplessness against the hatred of his brother Esau, allowed him to find home in Beth-EL, God's house. Enemies are God's messengers to lead us into a life of trust, to knowing God intimately, they're a means to our growing the more close to Jesus. Jacob lived to see and be seen of God, he was impassioned with the possibilities he'd find for living in God's presence partly because of His enemies. Will you allow the dark realities of your life to fuel your passion to better know God. To prosper you within is God's desire; let Him do this. As you prosper within; you'll find the things you need as well and your enemies will watch in wonder and crave what makes you prosper within and without... Peace, soul-prosperity, and favor follow those whose delight is to live where the help is-in the presence of God.

Think you all that?

We live in a culture of confidence. Anything deemed weak, powerless, or not eye to eye is out of place, unprofitable, and unworthy of our time and attention. It's little wonder the real needs of society like the homeless, jobless, and "heavenless" are not the object of our time. Like Alexander the Great, we're wounded by the pride of conquest, not seeing that men of Napoleon-like stature, like Paul are the ones God utilizes for His purpose in others. Take Paul, a case study in weakness made strength. He was regarded as strong in letter but a man, who didn't have much stage presence. Though he was well-trained at Gamaliel's feet, Paul's glory was not in His strength but in His message. Life taught Paul that his weakness was to be his boasting 2 Cor. 12:5 he learned that only when brought to his breaking point could he know personal breakthrough. This perspective brought reality and naturalness to what Paul did. First, he lived purely for the gain of others, not their return on his investment, he could do this because he held those he reached out to close to his heart. Second, he was natural and selfless in his way with people, his motives were right; after all, he wanted their good; any benefit he'd know from his investments with others was extra. Paul understood that he'd be what he needed to to others only as he lived in the reality of who he was, nothing. As our nothingness becomes a reality we live in; we're on path to greater influence. Paul knew a grace portion surpassing his need, when he lived in the conscious realization that his weakness was God's grace to him, enabling him to access God's greater power to do the impossible. If your glory is your strength today consider Christ's finest moment, the cross; it's impact on your life and mine is unequaled. Paul prided in his pain, for his pain was key to greater personal growth and impact. Take time to live consciously in your inabilities today as you trust God to do what you do. This is the life that holds God's attention and touches others deeply.