Tag: gladness
Again I say rejoice!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Philippians 4, Psalm 122, Proverbs 29
Philippians 4:4-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always ; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Paul concludes his short letter with an exhortation to rejoice with a double emphasis! He encourages the believers to live a life of continual rejoicing. If they have any worries or fears, they are to realize that the Lord is there with them and they need to cast these cares and fears on Him. Jesus will restore their peace and take away the fears. As the Jews were glad when they traveled to Jerusalem to visit the temple and experience God’s presence, the believer is to experience God’s peace because they are the ‘new temple’ of the Holy Spirit. Joy and rejoicing and peace are fruits of dwelling in God’s presence! Amen and amen!
Psalm 122:1-2 “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.”
Prayer: Father God, I am glad today that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and that You dwell in me. Thank You for the privilege of coming to You with all my worries and cares and casting them on You. Thank You for the fruit of Your Spirit growing in my life as I focus on You and Your Word. Fill my life with continuous rejoicing as I grow in righteousness, peace and joy through meditation on Your promises!
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Words of wisdom and encouragement
Scripture reading for March 1st: Acts 27, Psalm 43, Proverbs 12
Acts 27:33-38 “As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten, they lightened the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea.”
Paul was a prisoner of Rome under the control of a centurion named Julius. He had favor with him and Paul was allowed to visit his friends before boarding the ship. It was nearing winter, and sailing was treacherous. Paul warned them about possible loss, but the ship’s owner and captain called the shots. During the trip, a storm arose that caused them to despair of life! For fourteen days they drifted in the gale winds. Paul spoke up as the time of approaching land drew near. He encouraged the men to take heart and eat. He told them not a hair of their head would perish. He blessed the bread and ate, along with the 275 others on this ship. He gave a word of wisdom–light and truth making souls glad.
Psalm 43:3-4 “Send out Your light and truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to Your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding Joy, and I will praise You with the lyre, O God, my God!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving words of wisdom to Your servants to be a blessing and encouragement to all people and to show signs to the lost of Your love and care. Your Word brings light and truth to my soul. It leads me to Your holy dwelling and lifts anxiety from my heart replacing it with joy and gladness. Let Your Word bring hope, salvation and encouragement through my lips!
Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
Body, blood, with thanksgiving!
Scripture reading for January 19th: Mark 14, Psalm 14, Proverbs 14
Mark 14: 22-25 “And as they were eating, He took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is My body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew with you in the kingdom of God.””
As Jesus shared the ‘Last Supper’ with His disciples, He used the bread and sweet wine as a touchstone of remembrance and a prophesy of what was to come. He had told His disciples of His coming death and now broke the bread, giving thanks, telling them that it symbolized His body, broken for the world. He gave them the cup, after again giving thanks, telling them that this symbolized the (new) covenant with them made by the shedding of His own blood. He further told them that He would not drink this cup with them again until that day when He would drink it anew with them in His eternal kingdom! This cup also symbolizes the coming reunion of all believers when Jesus Christ takes us as His ‘Bride’ at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”
Prayer: Oh, Father in heaven, we rejoice now with thanksgiving each time we partake of the ‘Lord’s Supper’ in Holy Communion! It is the Eucharist–(thanksgiving) and helps us remember Your Son’s death on the Cross for us and that last supper with His disciples. But our hearts long for the prophetic fulfilment when Jesus Christ comes again for us, His ‘Bride’ and we eat with Him anew in His eternal kingdom!
Proverbs 14:26-27 “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
The blasphemous beast
Scripture reading for December 19th: Job 12-14, Psalm 100, Revelation 13
Revelation 13:1-4 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?””
John is given a vision of a beast-ruler rising out of the sea of humanity. This ‘beast’ has ten horns and seven heads and crowns on the heads and blasphemous names on the heads. This beast was a combination of leopard, bear, and lion and was empowered by the dragon, Satan, that old serpent. The beast had a fatal wound but was healed and restored to life and this miracle caused those left on the earth to marvel and worship him. The lie that they believed was that no one could stand against this powerful beast. They exalted him and the dragon that gave him his appearance of power. This was all a description of the war on earth between the dragon and those holding the testimony of Jesus and cleansed by His blood during the final great tribulation.
Psalm 100:1-2 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Prayer: Father God, I joyfully worship You alone and serve You with gladness! You, Alone, are God! You are my Creator, Lord and Savior and I am one a sheep of Your pasture. Through faith in Jesus Christ, I await Your trumpet call and the rapture if I am still on earth or the resurrection of my body. Use me to reach out to those still in Satan’s beastly grasp with good news of a Good Shepherd and rejoicing.
Job 14:14-15 “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer You; You would long for the works of Your hands.”