Outward vs. Inward Rejoicing

[S] Luke 10:19-20 --
 ¹⁹"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
 ²⁰"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

[O] When the 72 disciples returned from a "successful" mission trips reporting back how powerful it was for them to experience the supernatural miracles, Jesus teaches them the secret of victorious living is not about whether miracles take place in my life but whether God has recorded my name in His book of life.  What this means is that my life even after being recorded in this book may still go through challenges and difficulties so if I gauge the happiness of my spiritual life based on the outward result of defeating the enemy, then I would danger myself of worshiping the manifestation of His power instead of the fact of worshiping His grace and mercy for receiving me into His presence to live with Him in eternity.  This is especially true when participating in God's ministry because it is so easy to be caught up by looking at how well my ministry is going measured by how spiritually "strong" I am.  God is not interested in how spiritually I am (even though I may be) because He already knows that He is stronger than all of our enemies; but what He is interested in is how faithfully I cling on to the amazing grace He poured out for me at the Cross regardless of my spiritual strength against my enemies.

[A] Humbleness comes to mind because when the miraculous power of God takes place in my life, it is so easy to get proud as if I had achieved some level of skills when it's all about being under His grace and mercy.  I need not forget to stay in my posture of humbleness at all times.

[P] Dear God, I am so thankful for Your working in my life to reveal the power of Your love, strength, and victory against my enemies.  Please keep my heart humble at all times because I don't want to get distracted about the outcome of Your working in me instead of Your grace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.