I wish I would have had my video camera at church today! Our little girl absolutely loves worship music and just goes crazy during our worship at church. Today, as we sang of God's faithfulness, she began to dance and lift her hands. It was almost as though as it was just natural for her to worship and praise her King even though she is not even a year old yet.
As I watched her, I began to think about how much it must bless the heart of God to see a child worshipping Him without any hesitation. She wasn't worried about those around us. She didn't care what anyone thought. She was just having a good time experiencing the joy of the Lord!
How often do we, as adults, experience the joy of the Lord? How often do we allow Him to lavish us with His love?
Today's society is certainly not one in which joy is easily found. It is difficult to watch the news at night and feel joyful. However, because of the life that we have been given in Jesus, we can have joy.
Webster's Dictionary defines joy as "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires."
Why should we, as Christians, be lacking that emotion? Jesus has given us all that we have ever needed. If He is truly all that we desire, we should be extremely joyful and content with the lives that we have been given.
However, day after day, we allow people and situations to steal that joy that we have been given. We allow the enemy to convince us that joy is not something that is everlasting. We allow our joy to be taken away, when in reality, if our joy is in our Savior, it can never be stolen. He has given us a joy that even surpasses the definition of well-being, success, or good fortune.
Habakkuk 3:17 -18 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be JOYFUL in God my Savior."
In other words, it doesn't matter how bad things get or how terrible things may seem, we can rejoice in knowing that the Lord our God is our joy!
Psalm 92:4 says, "For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for JOY at the works of your hands."
Do you sing for joy at the works of the Lord? Do you give Him the glory that He deserves for what He has done in your life? Or do you blame Him for the negative things that you have experienced?
I want to encourage you to spend this week being joyful. Don't allow others to steal your joy. Remember, in Jesus our joy is eternal. Our Father has given us more than we could ever imagine in sending His son. Allow Him to be your joy. Ask God to give you a joyful heart and watch as He breaks down the walls of bitterness and becomes your joy and delight!
Some Things to Think About:
1. What does JOY mean to you?
2. Do you allow your circumstances to steal your joy?
3. Do you believe that the joy of the Lord can overcome your circumstances?
4. Have you allowed Satan to convince you that joy is not possible in today's world?
Words of Worth:
"For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands." Psalm 92:4
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be JOYFUL in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Speak Carefully!
Last week. I was talking to a friend on the phone and as I hung up the phone, I realized that I had spent our entire conversation complaining and grumbling. I had complained about how hard my day was, how crazy my life is, and how the chaos never seems to end.
That night as I lay in bed, God had to give me one of those "Father-daughter" talks as He so often does.
I was reminded of Phillipians 2:14-15 - "In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them."
God didn't say that we could complain on really bad days or to our really good friends. He said that in EVERYTHING we do, we should stay away from complaining.
It must grieve the heart of our Father to know that we are not happy or content with the lives with which we have been blessed. He must feel such sorrow when He sees the enemy convincing us that our lives are less than what we imagined.
God has given us so much. We are blessed to live the lives that we choose. I often think about people in other parts of the world that are persecuted for living out their faith, speaking their minds, or simply wearing the wrong type of clothing. And here I sit, complaining because my day was a little busier or crazier than I had planned!
I long for my life to shine brightly before men. I want people to wonder what I have that brings me such happiness and contentment. It's a little hard for others to want what I have if I am constantly complaining and grumbling. I want to represent my Savior in a way that true and good. I want to show others that He truly is the only way to have contentment and joy.
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
Have you ever talked to someone who just complained so often that it brought you down? Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling worse than when it started? Don't allow yourself to cause others to feel that way. Let the words that you say be good and helpful. Be an encouragement to others and not a complainer. God has called us to speak life and joy. Do not let the enemy use you to speak death and destruction.
As you go throughout your day today, speak carefully. Ask God to show you when you are complaining. Ask Him to give you words of life and use those words to be an encouragement to your friends, family, co-workers,and acquaintances.
Some Things to Think About:
1. How often do you complain?
2. What do you complain about?
3. Has complaining become a routine part of your day?
4. Have you ever focused on the things that bring you joy instead of the things that bring you pain?
Words of Worth:
"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29
"In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them." Phillipians 2:14-15
"Why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the Lord." Lamentations 3:39-40
That night as I lay in bed, God had to give me one of those "Father-daughter" talks as He so often does.
I was reminded of Phillipians 2:14-15 - "In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them."
God didn't say that we could complain on really bad days or to our really good friends. He said that in EVERYTHING we do, we should stay away from complaining.
It must grieve the heart of our Father to know that we are not happy or content with the lives with which we have been blessed. He must feel such sorrow when He sees the enemy convincing us that our lives are less than what we imagined.
God has given us so much. We are blessed to live the lives that we choose. I often think about people in other parts of the world that are persecuted for living out their faith, speaking their minds, or simply wearing the wrong type of clothing. And here I sit, complaining because my day was a little busier or crazier than I had planned!
I long for my life to shine brightly before men. I want people to wonder what I have that brings me such happiness and contentment. It's a little hard for others to want what I have if I am constantly complaining and grumbling. I want to represent my Savior in a way that true and good. I want to show others that He truly is the only way to have contentment and joy.
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
Have you ever talked to someone who just complained so often that it brought you down? Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling worse than when it started? Don't allow yourself to cause others to feel that way. Let the words that you say be good and helpful. Be an encouragement to others and not a complainer. God has called us to speak life and joy. Do not let the enemy use you to speak death and destruction.
As you go throughout your day today, speak carefully. Ask God to show you when you are complaining. Ask Him to give you words of life and use those words to be an encouragement to your friends, family, co-workers,and acquaintances.
Some Things to Think About:
1. How often do you complain?
2. What do you complain about?
3. Has complaining become a routine part of your day?
4. Have you ever focused on the things that bring you joy instead of the things that bring you pain?
Words of Worth:
"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29
"In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing...You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God...Let your lives shine brightly before them." Phillipians 2:14-15
"Why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the Lord." Lamentations 3:39-40
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