Tag: overcoming
Sorrow turned to joy!
Scripture reading for November 6th: John 16, Psalm 71, Proverbs 4
John 16: 20-24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Jesus spoke plainly to the remaining eleven disciples right before His final prayer with them before going to the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them that they would experience some deep sorrow, but that the world around them would be rejoicing over His coming crucifixion. It would be like a woman giving birth and experiencing the birth-pains of the coming new life. But as the woman’s sorrow and anguish were turning into joy at the new life of the child, so His disciples would have joy following His resurrection. They would receive new power and authority to pray directly to the Father and find answers. Whatever was asked in Jesus’ Name, our Father in Heaven would give it to us that our joy might be full!
Psalm 71:22-23 “I will also praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to You; my soul also, which You have redeemed.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Jesus’ death and resurrection has brought believers access to talk with You concerning our needs. I praise You for Your redemption and for the privilege of prayer. Help me to keep my heart pure and focused on Your overcoming grace bestowed on us through Jesus Christ to meet every need as we walk by faith through a world of woes and sorrows to the glory of heaven!
Proverbs 4:23,24 “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”