promised joy

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 (5:59 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

 Mm, yes. Morning. Good. You.

“Joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5)

“The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Quoting an online Bible Study site (biblestudytools) “The joy of the Lord is found on the road to restoration.” Mm… The more I read, Lord the more hopeful I become.

“The root word for joy in this context means to rejoice or to make glad. ‘Strength’ in the same verse is a Hebrew word meaning ‘a place of safety, protection, refuge, or stronghold.’ The root word of strength means to be strong, prevail; to make firm, strengthen.’ The joy of the Lord is a constant gladness and cause to rejoice. It stems from an inner strengthening from our relationship with Him. When Jesus died for us, He restored us to a peace with God that cannot be undone. ‘Your joy rests on God’s joy.’”

Here I find myself searching to learn more about Your promised joy. And thanking You Lord. Oh how I thank You.

John 15:11, “I have told you this [‘Remain in my love’] so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Today has yet to fully get started for us. And there is a genuine peace building within. Father God, I love You. I long to serve You as You alone know is best. Here I ask You to continue Your work in guiding me to living this day in Your strength and promised joy.

Jesus’ words to You in John 17:13, “And now I am coming to You. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.” How I ask You to make it so.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for “17:1-26 Jesus is our high priest and intercessor (Hebrews 8:1-6). He makes God’s will known to us and our heartfelt needs known to God…” Again I ask, make it so!

Returning to the Bible study site and its final paragraph. “Joy shifts our hearts to a position of worship regardless of current circumstance. It doesn’t change, fade, or expound based on anything we do or go through. He is a constant safety and peace in our lives. A safe harbor, in a tumultuous world. Through the filter of His joy and by the power of His strength, we are able to witness the surrounding beauty of life in deep and complex layers… all in His time.”

Again and again I pray Blessed God, make Your promised joy visible in this day. I love You Dad. Use me. Thank You. Amen.

(451 words ~ 7: 40 a.m.)

♪You Make Me Brave♪

Tuesday, September 29, 2020 (6:00 a.m.)

Oh most Blessed and Holy God,

Thank You! Yes. Thank You for so very many things.

I asked You yesterday to help me in finding joy and You did! Thank You Father. Thank You for the smiles and the songs and the challenges along the way.

Oh! Let’s remember the truly pleasant dreams. And the times You stopped me right in the middle of a thought and righted it with Your Word.

Lord God, You are good. How deeply I thank You that ♪You Make Me Brave You call me out beyond the shore into the waves You make me brave…♪ Thank You Lord.

I did not expect to be singing about how You indeed make me brave and at the same time be reading about satan. Yet here I am. Tracing Job’s words to You. And thanking You yet again.

Oh blessed God. Thank You! Thank You that in You we find Truth. And life. And hope. And JOY! Yes. Joy.

I found myself ever so briefly frustrated yesterday. Instead of my usual forging ahead and making a bigger mess of things, I stopped and straight out asked You, “Where is the joy in this?” In the very next moment the lost was found. Thank You Lord. Yes! Thank You.

Mm, Lord. How I ask You to continue making me brave.

I read what Illustrated Bible Handbook has to say about satan. And Jesus. And Truth. And believing. And I am so grateful.

Father, thank You that You know us. You created us. And most importantly You love us.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for Job 10:1-17 tells us, “Job took a respite from measuring his pain and began to direct his thoughts toward God. This subtle change would become a catalyst for growth, though he was not yet to sense any relief.”

Hmmm, a catalyst for growth. I sense something much like that taking place within me. Long held thoughts and beliefs are not only being challenged, but changed as well. Thank and praise You Dearest Dad!

“So often we talk about God or about our feelings. A critical step in healing is to address our helpless cries to God. He does not despise our grief; He welcomes its expressions.”

Holy God, You created each of us for Your purpose. As I search Your Word seeking to back up this thought with Your Truth, I sit up straighter. Eager to find what You have for me today.

Revelation 4:11

Ephesians 2:10

Isaiah 46:10-13

Oh most Dear and Holy God, it is absolutely in You I trust!

Another comment from The Life Recovery Bible keeps me seeking You all the more. Ephesians “46:1-13 God calls us to reality and Truth. People turn to many things to fill their inner needs. Anything less than God, whether ancient idols or addictions and unhealthy relationships today will fail like an idol that cannot even hold itself on a cart. In contrast, God is the everlasting, sovereign God of history who always does what He says. Putting our hopes of recovery in God’s hands is the only way to achieve our goal.”

And my goal for today? To glorify and enJOY You! How can that happen? Because ♪You Make Me Brave You call me out beyond the shore into the waves You make me brave…♪ Thank You Lord.

Do all You must with me this day. I long to again actively seek the joy You would have me encounter. I love You. I need You. I want You. I thank You. Oh yes Lord. How I thank You! Amen.

(611 words ~ 7:55 a.m.)

 

actively seeking

Monday, September 28, 2020 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

I am looking for Your joy this morning. Yes Father. I am actively seeking Your joy. Described by Bible.org as “a deep inner gladness regardless of circumstances; supernatural; from a relationship with God through knowing Jesus.”

Zephaniah 3:17, “For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will exult [rejoice; be joyful] over you by singing a happy song.”

John 15:11, “I have told you this [Jesus, the True Vine] so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes your joy will overflow!”

The more I read the larger my smile grows. The lighter my heart. The straighter my sitting. Thank You Lord.

Directed to read 1 Peter 1:8, I begin with verse 7. No, 6. No! 5, “And God, in His mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for awhile.”

Thank You Lord. Thank You that You truly are our Foundation of Living Hope!

Illustrated Bible Handbook explains “The Purpose of Trials; 1:7-9… Under trial, Christians experience deepening love for Jesus, and ‘are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy’ (8).”

Deepening love. Inexpressible and glorious joy. Yes Father. Make it so!

“These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (v. 7).

Oh yes Blessed God! Yes to the Truth of Your Word!

“You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him, you trust Him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy” (8). Trust. Happy. Glorious, inexpressible joy.

Mm… two comments for verses 7-9 speak of the refiner heating gold and separating the worthless and impure dross [rubbish] from the precious and beautiful gold. “God uses the fiery trials and tribulations in our life to purify and beautify our faith so that one day we will see clearly His image in us.” Oh yes Blessed God!

The Life Recovery Bible continues, “This Truth offers great comfort to those of us who struggle to make sense of a past marked by suffering. We can be confident that God will separate something priceless from the dross of our experiences.” Oh that I would firmly stand on the Truth of Your promises.

Looking to You in complete surrender Lord, I ask that You would take away all that is false in my life. Let me experience the joy You have for me. Fully trusting that You “will use our trials to further the process of healing in our life, [so that] even the tough times can become times of celebration.”

Oh yes Dearest Father. Make it so I truly thank and praise You ESPECIALLY in these harsh, difficult times! You are good. You know exactly what You are doing. And I trust You. Bring it Lord. Exactly as You alone know is best.

How I thank, praise and love You. Joyfully! Amen.

(606 words ~ 7:57 a.m.)

TRUTH!

Sunday, September 27, 2020 (7:32 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I’m here asking for Your help. My thinking gets in the way of Your promises. I am seeking Your Truth. That Truth that sets us free (John 8:31). The Truth that teaches us to live as Your children. Lovingly connected with one another.

I take my asking, seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7) to a hymn from long ago. Singing out my prayer that You would truly ♪Open My Eyes That I May See… my ears… my mouth… my heart…♪

Blessed Holy God, it is You I long to glorify and enjoy. It is Your Truth I crave to follow. Dearest Father, You know Your best for each of us. And I struggle every single day to hold my hopes and disappointments in check.

Maybe I’m not supposed to. Maybe You intend that I bring them all to You. Just like the poem entitled “Broken Dreams” written by Robert J. Burdette. How much do I resemble the one snatching back my broken dreams from You crying out, “How could You be so slow?”

How perfect for me to be reminded that it would be just like You to say, “My child, what could I do? You never did let go.” I hold on so tightly to the dreams of how I want relationships to be.

Oh Lord God, You have so much work to do in me! My thin-skinned, oversensitive feelings seem always to be just beneath the surface. What do we do Lord?

How do I confess to You that I truly desire deeper connections with others? Honest, open, willing communications. Built on all that is: true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind.

Holy God, You have been teaching me all these years and still I have so very much more to learn. I am confessing to You right now, meanness comes easy to me. Kindness? That’s work! Speaking Your Truth in Your love (Ephesians 4:15) doesn’t readily roll off my tongue.

Feelings of jealousy, being slighted, wanting more run rampant within me. Thank You that You know this even before I tell You. Thank You that You love me anyway.

Thank You that I DO get to be honest with You. Crying out when my feelings get hurt. You want my honest worship! Not a pretense. Thank You. Praise You.

Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly come to love You and others as Your Word commands. With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31).

You alone are good (Mark 10:18). I, on my own, am still created in Your image (Genesis 1:27). Let me remember that Truth Father! ♪Be glorified in me♪

I truly am asking to ♪hear Voices of Truth Thou sendest clear; And while the wave notes fall on my ear, Everything false will disappear♪ Yes Lord. Yes! “Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in Your Word” (Psalm 119:18 The Passion Translation).

Oh yes Blessed God. Protect me from myself this day. I love You. I need You. I ask You. I want You. And I thank You Lord. How truly I thank You. Amen.

(538 words ~ 9:06 a.m.)

Thou and Thou only!

Saturday, September 26. 2020 (5:53 a.m.)

Holy God, 

Lord how I thank You. We get to keep learning. You provide us with all the examples of how You would have us live. Teach me more now I pray.

I read of Your examples and the next thing I know I am singing ♪Be Thou My Vision♪ and ♪Be Thou Exalted♪ Lord God how truly I thank and praise You for Your examples to us.

You know the lives You would have us live. Filled with Your love. Sharing You with others. Oh teach us Your way Blessed God.

♪Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that Thou art - Thou my best thought, by day and by night; waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light♪ Oh yes Blessed God!

♪Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father, Thine own may I be, Thou in me dwelling and I one with Thee♪ Mm, Father. How I ask You to keep my sights on You.

♪Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; Thou mine inheritance, now and always; Thou and Thou only first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art♪ Thou and Thou only. Oh yes Dearest God! Thou and Thou only!

♪High King of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all♪ Whatever befall? Yes! Lord… whatever befall! ♪Still be vision, O Ruler of all♪

Oh most Dear and Blessed Father God, I long to live this day letting go of the fears that have held be bound all these years. What would it be to truly live and love without fear?

Your Word again gives us the examples! 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is by suspicion, but he who fears is not grown up in love” (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

Grow me up in Your love Dearest Lord!

Illustrated Bible Handbook has a section titled Chapter 4:7-21. God’s Love: Source and Example. Under the subsection “God Is Love; 4:16-18.” we learn “John says that as we grow in love, fears that God will punish us for wrongdoing diminish (cf. Rom. 13:8-10).”

As I confer with these verses I am reminded “Love Fulfills God’s Requirements”. Yes!

Illustrated Bible Handbook instructs, “God is concerned with far more than good citizenship! God is building a new community; a colony of righteousness, settled in the dark and twisted world of lost men. This community is not marked off by its ideals or even its rules and high standards: it is marked off by a deep love for one another which makes rules irrelevant, for ‘love does no harm to the neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law’ (10).”

Oh that I would truly come to love as You originally designed us!

“Paul closes with an urgent call to his readers to awake to the importance of the present time. God calls us, now, to clothe ourselves with Christ, and to build His new community of love.”

Make it so Blessed God. Make me so!

I love You. I need You. I want You. I ask You. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I am unable to do on my own. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(588 words ~ 8:07 a.m.)

making amends

Friday, September 25, 2020 (6:06 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for the opportunities You give us. I was unkind in speech yesterday. Snarky. Mean spirited.

How perfect that the first verse I turn to this morning (Colossians 4:6 The Message) takes me to task. “Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

May I just say, “Ouch!” Forgive me Father. As I sit here feeling the egg on my face harden, I humbly ask You to guide my next step. How do I best make amends to yet another mistake?

Yes Lord. Your Word stresses the importance of using our words well. Easy-to-Read Version says, “When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.”

Oh Lord. The more I read, the deeper the conviction. New Living Translation, “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” I confess. I did not!

Other translations use such descriptive words as: pleasant, seasoned with salt, sprinkled with insight, interesting, carefully chosen, well thought, sensible, always full of grace, not foolish, tempered with truth and clarity. The list goes on.

Blessed God, I ask You to forgive me. I have failed You and others. I have allowed hurt feelings and frustrations to color my thoughts, attitudes and word choices. Change me Dear Lord. Into the woman You would have me be.

You know. That one referred to in Proverbs 31. The one who is clothed with dignity and strength and laughs with no fear of the future (v. 25). Whose “children stand and bless her” and “husband praises her” (28).

It’s spelled out even more perfectly in The Passion Translation. “Her sons and daughters arise in one accord to extol her virtues [saying ‘Hooray, hooray for our mother!’], and her husband arises to speak of her in glowing terms.” What would that be like?

I long to be the woman You originally designed, Lord. Loving. Kind… Do all You must Blessed God. To Your end. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(333 words ~ 7:55 a.m.)

"The Blessing"

Thursday, September 24, 2020 (6:40 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy Father God,

Thank You. Praise You. Bless You. Keep You, close to each of us.

Mm, yes Father. Bless You. And keep You.

Almost immediately I have two songs from Sunday vying for first place in my head. ♪Anchor♪ by Bethel Music that we sang together yesterday. And ♪The Blessing♪

Strains of ♪Anchor♪ have me crooning ♪I love You, I love You♪ Even as I look for these lyrics I am truly blessed to learn that Bethel is also responsible for ♪You Make Me Brave♪ Oh most Holy and Heavenly Father, thank You that You do indeed make us brave!

Lord God, thank You for the people who are committed to bringing Your Truth to the lives of others through their music. “Bethel Music. An American worship group. Christian praise & worship collective that’s home to several singers, groups, musicians, and songwriters.”

“Elevation Worship - music meets heaven” It is because of the dedication of other Believers that I get to raise my own voice in tearful worship. Praise You Lord!

♪The Lord bless you And keep you Make His face shine upon you And be gracious to You The Lord turn His face toward You And give You peace… Amen, amen… May His favor be upon you And a thousand generations And your family and your children And their children, and their children… May His presence go before you And behind you, and beside you All around you, and within you He is with you, He is with You In the morning, in the evening In your coming, and your going In your weeping, and rejoicing He is for you, He is for you… Amen, amen, amen♪

Oh indeed Blessed God. Amen!

It is only because of You that I have the courage to get out of bed each day Lord. Because Your face IS upon us. You ARE gracious. You DO give us peace. To a thousand generations.

When we look to the world it is easy to forget Your Truth. Thank You for the people that You have placed in our lives that help us know You to be a good and benevolent God.

Thank You for the Truth of Your Word that reminds us, “I cried out to the LORD in my suffering and He heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear Him, and He rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!” (Psalm 34:6-8)

Yes Blessed God, You call us to joy. Let that be the case today. Resting in and leaning on You. Your Truth. Your promises.

♪To a thousand generations And our family and our children And their children and their children… in the morning, in the evening in our coming and our going In our weeping and rejoicing… You are for us. You are for us… Amen, amen, amen♪

Do all You know is best for each and every single one of this day Blessed God. Thank and praise You. Amen.

(523 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)

Anchor

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 (6:45 a.m.)

Holy God,

Again I look to You. Thoughts. Concerns. Then music (♪Anchor♪ from Bethel Music). And hope.

♪In every season, in every change You are near In every sorrow, You are strength You are near A peace in the storm Your voice I will follow In weakness I rise Remembering You hold my world♪

Thank You Father. Thank You that You are always here for us to turn to.

♪I’m holding on to hope I’m holding on to grace I’m fully letting go I’m surrendered to Your ways♪ I sing the words as another news story startles my very being.

Blessed God, You are good. We are to trust You! Thank You that as bleak as the state of the Union appears, again and again I turn to You.

♪The anchor for my soul Father You will never change I love You, I love You♪

Thank You Lord. Thank You that we are called to ever turn to You. We, as a nation, are in deep duress. Looking at what lies before us is truly distressing. Depressing actually.

And then I turn and look again to You! ♪My great Redeemer, My constant Friend You are near My faithful Father, You took me in You are near♪

I am confessing to You Lord, it is getting harder to be hopeful. And then I am reminded, YOU are our hope! Not the nation. Nor the elected officials. You!

♪I will remember Your promise forever My Strength, my Defender I can count on You You are my Savior, My Hope and my Shelter Your love is forever I can count on You♪

Here I turn to Your Word. Your Truth. Your hope. And Your promises. Hebrews 6:13-20 “God’s Promises Bring Hope … Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God promised… God has given us both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to His promise with confidence.”

Yes Lord! Hold on to Your promise with confidence! Yes!

“This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary.”

Right here I sit up straighter. Refueled. Believing. Changing songs.

♪I’m not a warrior I’m too afraid to lose I feel unqualified for what You’re calling me to But Lord with Your strength I’ve got no excuse ‘Cause broken people are exactly who You use So give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense So I can face my giants with CONFIDENCE♪

Yes most Blessed God! Be our defense! Our Anchor and our Defense!

Your nature is unchanging. Your promises are trustworthy. And we “find absolute security in the resurrected Christ, who is our High Priest and who connects us with the living God” (comment, The Life Recovery Bible).

As we look to You, beseeching You to do all that only You can do Lord, humbly I ask that You would ♪Open My Eyes That I May See… Open my ears that I may hear… Open my mouth and let me bear… Open my heart, and let me prepare… Spirit Divine♪

We are in such desperate need of You Dearest Lord. Actively we seek to ♪hear Voices of Truth Thou sendest clear; And while the wave notes fall on my ear, Everything false will disappear♪

Let it be so Dearest Lord. Let us see Your Truth made visible today.

I love You Father. I trust You. I depend on You. We need You Lord. Oh how we need You. Thank You for all You have planned for Your good and Your glory. Do all You must. ♪Still I Will Praise You♪ (Daniel Bashta). Thank You. We love and need You. Amen.

(668 words ~ 8:37 a.m.)

♪If My People's Hearts Are Humbled♪

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (6:42 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

How I thank and praise You Lord. There hasn’t been the singing like there was yesterday. Except for ♪God Bless America♪ Father, how I do ask You to bless America. It all looks so very bleak.

I turn in a hymn book and then to Your Word. Lord God, how truly I ask You to ♪Stand beside us and guide us Through the night with YOUR Light from above♪ Holy, holy God we are in such desperate need of You. Your presence. Your guidance. Your wisdom. Your holiness.

Under a Patriotic section of The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration is ♪If My People’s Hearts Are Humbled♪ Following Your lead directly to 2 Chronicles 7:14 my heart aches Lord. My eyes fill. Terror could easily overtake my thinking.

Instead I stand firm and stay my mind on You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for the verse above states, “7:14 This verse contains one of God’s greatest promises to Israel. Although this promise was given specifically to Old Testament Israel, we know that through Jesus Christ, God does listen to our prayers, and He does forgive our sins as we confess them. It is part of God’s nature to be forgiving. This fact should give us great comfort as we seek to deal with our past failures.”

Past failures. Yes! Father, we have failed You. So much!

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Oh please Lord. Please Lord. Please. We are a desperate people. We have failed You. Do all You must Father. Change us Lord. Heal us as You desire.

Another song came. ♪Humble YourThyself in The Sight of the Lord And He will shall lift You up, higher and higher♪ Oh Lord God how deeply I thank You.

Following this song over to 1 Peter 5:6 a smile overtakes me. Reading the surrounding verses again I feel wrapped in a cocoon of Your making.

Beginning at verse 5, I choose to hope in You. “Your younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of You, serve each other in humility, for ‘God sets Himself against the proud, but He shows favor to the humble.’ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”

I believe this Lord. I trust this. I stand on this Father.

Continuing. Verse 8. “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” And with that? Another song!

♪Our God is greater, our God is stronger God, You are higher than any other Our God is Healer, awesome in power Our God! Our God!♪

Yes Lord! ♪… Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like You, none like You!♪

Do all You must Dearest God. We are in absolute desperate need of You. Thank You. We love You. Amen.

(558 words ~ 9:33 a.m.)