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.)