He Restores Our Joy!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore onto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit.  Psalm 51: 11-13

     You may have sung these words on a Sunday morning. These words are in a traditional church hymn sung through the ages. What beautiful words to sing to our God. Not feeling joy-filled at the present moment? The joy of our salvation wanes and weaves from our hearts and minds as we live out our lives. But God will restore that joy to you as you continue to ask Him for His holy presence in your life.

     God’s presence is not always a tangible, emotional feeling. But believe it; He is ever-present! It takes faith and trust in a God who is more than able and available. He watches over your life.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     A reason to rejoice! Your salvation in Christ brings great joy. His ever-present guidance is available right now this very minute. Ask Him to restore your joy and be filled with His free and willing Holy Spirit.

Jesus,

We ask for Your complete joy to fill us today. Thank You for watching over us all the time.

Amen

Rejoice In His Love

     King David was called, “a man after God’s own heart.” But, like us, he messed up time after time. His beautiful songs and emotions fill the pages of the Psalms. We witness his sorrow, his fear, his deep shame and his continued desire to come back to God.

     Even when we mess up, God is there. He loves us always, never less, never more, because of our behavior. His unconditional love is beyond our human understanding. Wherever you are today, rejoice in His love for you.

I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.  Psalm 31:7

Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because He rescues me. Psalm 35:9

     Notice in the last verse above, the word “rescues.” It is not past-tense or future-oriented. It is a perpetual rescue, past, present and future. He will rescue us. He has rescued us. He rescues us over and over again.

Lord,

We rejoice in Your ever-present love for us even when we mess up and turn away from You. Thank You for never leaving us alone. All we need to do is turn to You again and again.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Rejoice!

     Paul suffered greatly in his life. Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus propelled him forward no matter the circumstances.  You can read through a list of some of the trials Paul suffered beginning with verse 24 of 2 Corinthians 11.  Paul wrote many of his last letters from a prison in Rome where he was chained to a Roman guard.

     How then could he write these words from the dank, smelly cavern of a prison cell?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! Philippians 4:4

     A tall order to “always” be full of joy in the Lord. Remind yourself today of all you have in Jesus. His Spirit resides within you. He is ready to teach and guide you throughout the rest of your life. He has a plan and a purpose for you. He has an eternal home waiting for you. Let’s say it again!  Rejoice!

Jesus,

We do rejoice in You! Keep the deep joy bubbling up within us until it shows beyond ourselves to the world around us. Your transforming love needs to be shared.

Amen

Joy In The Morning

     The deep joy of Jesus, even facing the agony to come, can be embedded deep within our souls. The Holy Spirit seals us when we first believe and comes to reside within us. That deep peace and joy of our blessed assurance in eternity provides our souls with an abiding rest.

     When our human emotions, struggles and trials begin to take over ouf lives, as they will time and time again, we can choose to focus on Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him and on hope. Joy, complete and eternal, is waiting for us.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Psalm 84:5

Jesus,

You are the joy of our hearts. Place our hearts and minds above the earth to You today. Remind us continually of the joy to come.

Amen

Count It Joy

     Imagine the Creator of the universe, the Word of the infinite God, the One with thousands of angels under His authority, offering to live as one of us and experience humanity in all of its forms. Jesus wept. The Son of God became angry. The Messiah felt weariness and was tempted in every way. Our Savior prayed continually for guidance from our Father in heaven. The good Shepherd sweat drops of blood agonizing over the death to come.

     He did it willingly. In fact, He did if for the coming joy.

For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2b

     If we could only imagine the joys of heaven. Jesus knew the end of the story. The agonizing darkness on Friday would become a glorious Sunday filled with light and hope. Death had no power over Him. And it has no power over you, because of Him. He did it for you and me. He suffered every sin we would ever experience, every disease that invades our bodies, every grief that robs hope from the soul. He overcame it all for the glorious joy of resurrection and redemption.

Jesus,

There are no words. The plan of salvation was written before time began. You counted it joy and You are worthy to be praised from now ‘til forevermore.

Amen

A Little While

     A friend of mine reminded me today of a Bible study we did a few years ago. That study gave us real insight into the over-all big picture of life, death and eternity. The apostle Peter wrote these Words:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. The inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice though now, for a little while, you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:3-6

     Praise God!!  We have new birth. We have a living hope. We have an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. Through faith we are shielded with God’s mighty power.  We can greatly rejoice because of our inheritance to come.  Notice this!

…now, FOR A LITTLE WHILE… (v6)

     Our grief and suffering, our trials are for just a little while. Keep it in perspective.  Today…a little while…ETERNITY!!!  Forever and ever, one day we will rejoice forever.  Look up and rejoice.

Jesus,

Your resurrection overcame the enemy of death. Our spirits will never die and we will receive resurrected bodies just like Yours one day very soon. Comfort those who grieve. Give peace to the anxious heart. Bring hope to those in depression. Open hearts to Your gift of eternal life. We are here for just a little while.

Amen

Cast Your Cares

     Sunshine, flowers, happy thoughts, beautiful mornings. We believe it would be best if every day was filled with rainbows and easy living. Think back on your life. Where did you gain the most wisdom? When did you feel closest to God? When have you relied on God’s strength most and when did you begin to trust Him above what was happening in your life?

     If you are like me, the darkest times, the times of deepest suffering brought you into a more intimate relationship with Christ. Even in music, the minor chords lead us to appreciate the majors. Gratefulness and thanksgiving are often most apparent after coming through a tough time. Life is filled with challenges and struggles.

     Without Jesus, it would be impossible to get through it all. With Him, we gain perspective over time, we gain wisdom through His Word, we gain trust when He gets us through once more and we gain peace and joy when eternity is secure.

     Count on Him. Rely on His power. Trust Him to see you through the next moment, the next hour, through one more day. His grace is sufficient. He cares for you.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 2 Peter 5:7

Father,

We don’t understand why we suffer. You do. And Your power shines through every situation. We cast all of our anxiety on You today knowing You care for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen