Marked by Joy..... Craig Denison

 Marked by Joy

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” >Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture:“The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” Proverbs 10:28

Devotional:

C.S. Lewis said, “All joy emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings.” As pilgrims on the journey to boundless communion with our heavenly Father, we are called to be marked by a sustaining and transcendent joy. Our God is a God of joy. He is the creator of fun and the giver of abundant life. He longs for his children to taste and see his goodness (Psalm 34:8). He longs for us to open our hearts, cast off the cares of this world, and receive the joy that comes from living for heaven.

Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Proverbs 10:28 says,“The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” We serve a joyful King. There is no greater joy than living in the fullness of relationship available to us in Christ. To live for heaven is to throw off whatever weight would entangle us to the depravity of this world and seek sustaining joy that comes down from heaven to fill our hearts.

Our Father cares deeply about the concerns of this world. He weeps over the lost. He becomes angry over the works of the enemy. He is deeply saddened when we choose the fleeting and unsatisfying ways of the world over his fulfilling and perfect plans. But in the midst of all his emotions, he is joyfully expectant for the age that is to come. He sees the depravity and wounds and celebrates that one day soon it will all be redeemed. He is elated over the day that “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). And there is sustaining joy available to us this side of heaven if we will allow him to fill us with his perspective.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” If we will allow the Lord to redeem the trials and testing we endure in this life, we will begin to bear the fruit of joy in the midst of any circumstance. Unshakable joy is our portion. The heart of our Father is to make us a people marked by the joy of heaven. Take time today in guided prayer to throw off whatever is keeping you from experiencing the joy of the Lord. Rest in his presence and search out his heart. May you be a child marked by the joy of your heavenly Father today.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance and availability of joy to you. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with a longing to pursue continual joy.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” >Isaiah 55:12

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” >Romans 14:17

2. What is keeping you from experiencing joy? What is weighing you down today? Ask for the Lord’s help in throwing off that which is robbing you of his joy. Ask him to guide you to a path of unshakable joy today.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” >James 1:2-4

“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” Psalm 33:21

3. Take time to rest in the presence of your Father and search out his heart. Ask him to share with you his perspective for your life. Ask him to help you care about only the things he cares about.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” Psalm 4:7

C.S Lewis is also quoted as saying, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” We are not to be flippant about our joy. To be marked by joy is to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives. When we have genuine joy in the midst of trials and troubles, we declare to the world the unchanging and tangible goodness of our heavenly Father. When we meet challenges head-on with joy, we declare with our attitudes the hope we have for the age that is to come. Pursue joy wholeheartedly today and declare with your life the principles of God’s kingdom so that others might come to restored relationship with their Creator.

Extended Reading: Psalm 16

5 Truths to Know about Psalm 119..... By Debbie McDaniel

 5 Truths to Know about Psalm 119

By Debbie McDaniel

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” - Psalm 119:32

All too often, maybe simply because of its length, we read through Psalm 119 too quickly. Or we skip forward to something else, or just read a verse here or there, but possibly never look at the entire chapter as a whole, or think about who wrote it, and what the real point of it even is. In looking deeper, we can discover so much wisdom, hidden gems that reveal the richness of our God coming to life through its words.

5 Truths to Know About Psalm 119:

1. Psalm 119 is actually written as an acrostic poem.

The verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of each of the Hebrew alphabet, such as “Aleph,” “Beth,” “Gimel,” and so on. This is only noticeable in looking back at the original text. There are 22 stanzas or sections, equal to 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with 8 verses each, and a total of 176 verses.

2. The author of Psalm 119 is unknown but some have suggested it may have been Ezra the priest, written at the time that the temple had been rebuilt.

Though the life of Ezra may not be the most well known in the Bible, he was extremely important and greatly used by God at a time in history when the Israelites desperately needed a faithful, strong leader. Ezra lived his days out of a deep, personal commitment to God, not simply seeking his own personal gain. He was given much responsibility to lead, sent by the King Artaxerxes, to set up a program of religious education for the people. His life proved faithful to study, follow, and teach God’s Word, and his godly example is still very relevant for our lives today. Others have suggested that Psa. 119 may have been written by David, or possibly Daniel. The author is certainly one who experienced great affliction in life, since the persecution of those who hold fast to the Word of God is a theme carried throughout.

3. Almost every verse of Psalm 119 mentions God’s Word in some way.

 it may be written as His “word,” “ways,” “statutes,” “decrees,” “law,” “precepts,” “commands,” or “promise” – but it’s in some way mentioned through most all of the verses.

4. Just as Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible, two Psalms just before, Psalm 117, is the shortest chapter of all.

There has been much discussion throughout history about whether Psalm 117 or 118 is the center chapter of the entire Bible. Some have said it’s divided as such: 594 chapters up to Psalm 117 and 594 chapters from Psalm 119 on, with chapter 118 being the center, and a total of 1189 chapters in the entire Bible. Those that hold to this also believe that Psa. 118:8 is the center verse of the Bible, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Others have said that Psalm 117 seems to be the center point, with these 2 verses, “Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His loving kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!”  Either way, it’s interesting to note that, depending on translation, 594 + 594 = 1188. It all points to the truth that God is a God of order and precision. This entire section of God’s Word is Sovereignly placed at a significant and pivotal point in the Bible and we would be wise to study it carefully.

5. The overall message of Psalm 119 focuses on the truth of God’s Word. 

It encourages us through every generation to stay close and focused on His Word no matter what swirls around us in this world. Living in the freedom and knowledge of God’s ways, obeying His law above all else, and keeping in step with His commandments is the only way to truly live wise, strong lives.

God’s Word is powerful, living, and active. It never changes, because He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His words are breathed straight from His heart to us, a love letter for life, not simply an old-fashioned, outdated book with no relevance for today. His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword.

Psalms 119 reminds us that God's very character is reflected through His Word, He is Righteous, He is Faithful, He is Unchanging, He is True. The opening 2 verses remind us, that we are "blessed" as we walk in His Truth, and seek him with our whole heart.

No 'Sour Grapes' Excuses..... by Doug Stringer

 No 'Sour Grapes' Excuses

by Doug Stringer

As children, we all had a tendency to excuse our own bad behaviors, or to project or shift blame when we were caught doing something we shouldn’t have been doing. It’s only with maturity that we become willing to accept responsibility for our own actions. As a mentor and friend, the late Dr. Edwin Louis Cole, used to say, “Maturity is not based on age, but on the willingness to accept responsibility.”

I believe it is a lifelong challenge to decide which choices we will make and what our character will be when we are confronted with our own frailty. We all make mistakes, but what do we do after that mistake has been brought to light? If we are honest with God and with ourselves, we can grow in maturity in those moments. Or, like children, we can try to shift blame to someone or something else.

In my early years of ministry, I was intrigued with the meaning and correlation of the following scriptures:

Jeremiah 31:29-30: “In those days they shall say no more: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”

Ezekiel 18:2: “What do you mean when you use this proverb... ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?”

For the sake of brevity, I won’t attempt to go line upon line explaining all the surrounding verses that provide the context for these scriptures, though I would encourage you to take the time to read the full chapters.

That being said, I think Ezekiel 18:19-20 gives a good paraphrase of the point being made:

“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live . . . The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”

In other words, we cannot justify, rationalize, excuse or project our own actions or sins upon others. The choices I make cannot be justified because of my parents, or my childhood circumstances, or my past. I cannot change my past, but the decisions I make each day determine my future. Yes, I may have had some challenging and difficult times growing up. Yes, society may try to tell us that we can’t help who we are because we’ve come from a dysfunctional family or difficult circumstances. Yes, there may have been sour grapes along the way, yet the decisions I make each day cannot be excused by the past. As a new creature in Christ, I’m not bound by the actions of others. Regardless of past relationships or circumstances, we are all responsible for our own actions.

When I was in the fitness business, there was a quote often used: “Success requires no apologies and failure permits no alibis.” The quote is from author Napoleon Hill. His words can be applied to just about any facet of our life’s journey. Regardless of my heritage, where I was born, my parents, background, or any other circumstance in life, I do not have to be limited by them. The choices are mine. And Scripture reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

So, no longer should we let the sour grapes in our lives cause us to have our teeth set on edge. May we move away from making excuses and projecting our frustrations on others. Life is too precious and short to be wasted away. In the complexity of the world we live in, may we emulate the characteristics of the Kingdom of God and let our light shine in such a way that others may see Christ and bring glory to the Father in Heaven.”

Further reading:
Jeremiah 31
Ezekiel 18

A Prayer for God’s Will to Be Done..... By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer for God’s Will to Be Done

By Tiffany Thibault

Your kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10

Today is a new day, a fresh start. Yesterday is gone and there isn't a whole lot we can do to change anything that happened. However, today is a fresh chance to live it differently.

Before their feet even hit the floor, most people are already planning their day, their activities, and reviewing things on their “to-do list” from the moment that they wake up. Life is busy and things need to be taken care of. Such is the habit of most of us.

When we became Christians, many of us looked to the Lord for each big decision. We approached prayer with a hunger to have God take care of our stuff. We sought out wisdom from the Scriptures and we were on fire to let God be God. We were excited to see God do things His way.

Then time passed and our focus fell from all of God to just some of God. Perhaps as the years have gone by, we prayed a little less for our needs. Perhaps we sought out Christian mentors less and less as we continued our habits of working, planning and accomplishing things. Then, somewhere along the way, we lost our God-focus. We reverted to our daily habits of doing all the stuff we need to do, to get through our days. Now, we find ourselves joyless, frustrated and running on empty.

How many of us are counting the days until certain events such as graduation, weddings, vacations, and retirements? How many of us, though, are inviting the Lord into all of these plans?

What if all the troubles, the family drama, the broken hearts, the piled-up bills, the mess-ups that occur throughout our days, are God’s way of trying to get your attention? What if God is using all the stuff, both good and difficult, to get you to spiritually wake up?

Today, look at all the things going on in your life, and view them through this verse. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Can you lay out all your fears, concerns and activities before the Lord and pray to have His will be done in each one?

As you think about each thing you must face today, bring them all before the Lord in prayer and give it to Him. Let Him have His way in every area of your life and over every one of your to-do’s. Let Him be God and let Him create something beautiful in your life.

Dear Lord, 

You are the Almighty, the Creator, the God of all. Help me as I go through this day. Help me to put aside my will and to discard any of my plans that are standing in the way from your plans. Open my heart to see things the way that you do, to be a vessel for you to work through, as you carry out your plans for my today and for my tomorrows.

May you be glorified in my actions, in my relationships, in my thoughts and in every activity I participate in today. Help me to keep my eyes on you and to view each situation as an opportunity for you to do a mighty work in my life.

In your name, I pray, 

Amen