Throughout life, many opportunities will be presented to steal the joy the Lord has provided. It may be something simple that is uniquely or commonly irritating. Or it may be a larger, jarring circumstance that may cause frustration, worry, and fear. These things seek to take the comfort, delight, and confidence we have in the Lord and replace them with doubt, anxiety, and discouragement.
I love Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” What great comfort we have in this verse, remembering according to Galatians 3:29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” So, with confidence, we can put faith in these words to apply to us as well as Israel.
Joy comes in reading what God reveals about himself and our relationship with him as his children. This is why we must make time to familiarize ourselves with the truth of the scriptures to strengthen our faith. We need to know the God whom we can rely on and what He’s promised us. Do the scriptures not tell us that He is our provider, avenger, refuge, strength, help, fortress, healer, counselor, etc.? All of these things and more should bring us great joy in facing any circumstance or just living our day-to-day lives. We should never forget that the Creator of the universe is always with us and promises to never leave nor forsake us.
Jude 1 reminds us that the Lord is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Further, Romans 12:12 tells us to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
It will be a great advantage for us to schedule some time each day to engage with the Lord through the reading of His word and prayer realizing that according to Acts 2:28, He has made known to us the paths of life; and will fill us with joy in His presence.
So, let us not allow anything or anyone to steal the fruit of joy God has provided us through His Holy Spirit. We are greatly blessed!
As we’re coming upon a new spring season, I’ve considered a few scriptures that I believe the Lord downloaded to me regarding living well:
Agree in Prayer with a Prayer Partner
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 18:19/NIV
The Bible tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous. However, the Lord himself makes known the power in a prayer of agreement in this verse. Whenever possible, take some time to pray in agreement with someone else about your desires or concerns, remembering Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one…”.
Steer Clear of Covetousness
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. ~Proverbs 16:19/ESV
It’s quite evident throughout scripture that God is generous and often blesses his people with abundance. However, when faced with the option of wealth with arrogance versus having little with contrite contentment, go with the latter.
Guard Your Journey
The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.~Proverbs 16:17/NIV
In the Bible, the Lord has shown us the path we should follow. We should be alert to the directions He gives us for our individual lives and see them as important guideposts toward fulfilling our destiny for Him. The protection or security of our lives is influenced by how we safeguard our ways. It is healthy to assess from time to time where we are in our walk with Christ and make adjustments according to the wisdom and knowledge we’re given by his word and Holy Spirit.
Avoid Evil Influences and Behavior
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.Therefore do not be partners with them. ~Ephesians 5:1-7/NIV
This passage is pretty explicit about the type of behavior we should shun–works that aren’t congruent with a Christ follower. Walking in love is God’s way. Moreover, in Romans 13:10 we see that “Lovedoesnoharm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Embrace the Grace God Has Given Us to Live a Holy Life
So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.~Romans 6:11-14/NLT
It is an awesome privilege that God has given us to be able to live free from the control of sin in our lives. Though it may at times seem like an impossible task, scripture speaks differently. We have power over our actions, and the option to choose good over evil. We are no longer considered slaves to sin but are free to live the godly life that God expects from us. It’s called grace. He’s given it to us to live for His glory. We are now loose, able, and at liberty to exercise God’s righteousness in our behavior, versus letting sin control how we live.
Resist the Urge to Shrink Back
…“But my righteousone will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. ~Hebrews 10:38-39/NIV
As believers we live by faith which means we are confident of those things we hope for, those things we are unable to tangibly see. We trust God’s work and word in our lives and we don’t recoil or retract from what we know to be truth. Apparently, to do so could bring about tragic consequences. So we remain vigilant in our faith as it is crucial.
Think of the greatest king who ever lived. I’d say he is Jesus who still lives–King of all kings. However, I imagine the mightiest earthly king, apart from Jesus, having the largest army with well-stocked weapons to be used as necessary. In addition, I envision a palace full of all kinds of wealth and decor that would make one gasp for breath at its luxury.
(Image: Wikipedia – King Cyrus)
I imagine he’d have thousands of subjects and horses so tall, confident, and gorgeous to behold. In addition, I visualize he’d have the very best of tailored attire and jewelry made of the finest metals and stones I’ve never personally seen. Yet Jesus remains greater than any earthly king. He is the chief of royalty, King Yeshua!
(Image: Sergeant Rupert Frere, Royal Logistic Corps, 2016)
Moreover, when I think of the reality of Jesus and his authority as King of all Kings, my heart faints with repentance as I know I have not truly honored him as the awesome true king that He is with the reverence He deserves. Jesus is not just a friend, buddy, acquaintance, homey, or man upstairs. He has been given all power and authority and has a name above all names–Jesus!
Understanding who the King of Kings, the Son of God, is and His connection to the Father who created all things, with the Holy Spirit of greatest power, makes me shudder at the thought of His greatness. Can we even truly comprehend it?
In His dwelling place are riches beyond our imagination. Surely this current earth pales in comparison. Imagine the greatest beauty He’s already created on Earth and throughout the universe. Yet He will create new heavens and a new earth and the old will pass away. Isaiah 65:17 says, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Further, scripture shows us in Revelation 21:1 where the Apostle John said, “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
(Image: NASA via PICKYL)
Thankfully, His kingdom is now at hand and we also pray, as Jesus instructed, that His kingdom come and will be done on earth, just like it is in heaven. Do we really know what that means? To see the earth manifest Jesus’ kingdom in this way would be amazing, to say the least. The greatest blessing we could receive would be His kingdom on this earth, everyone doing and being as He desires. as he rules and reigns supreme as Lord.
A really neat thing is that we, the body of Christ, His family, as those who truly love him are heirs to his kingdom. Romans 8:17 tells us that “if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in His sufferings so that we may also share in His glory. But just how did he suffer? Being lied to, rejected, mocked, betrayed, tempted, not believed, defamed, beaten, made to carry a heavy cross, and dying on that cross.
(Image: Guard the Doors/DeviantArt)
Our suffering may not be to the extent of some of these things, yet we must all take up our own crosses and follow Jesus. It certainly does not mean we will be accepted and praised by society for doing so. Yet He promises never to leave nor forsake us and we’re encouraged that greater is He that is in us than He who is in the world.
Unity is a beautiful thing. However, sometimes separating isn’t so bad. Sometimes it’s necessary. I’m referencing 2 Corinthians 6:14-18/NIV where the Apostle Paul is preaching regarding God’s will on separation. He first tells us not to be yoked together with unbelievers. The Greek word for yoked is Zugas which means to be burdened or in bondage. When you yoke yourself with someone or a thing, you are attaching, connecting, or closely linking with them.
Image: anna/Flickr
Unbelievers are those who have no relationship with Christ and don’t believe as God determines belief. They haven’t repented, submitted their lives to the Lord, nor been baptized. Also, they are often those who have professed faith in Christ by words only while living totally contrary to its definition.
Paul characterized this wrongly yoked relationship with the following contrasts:
Righteousness vs Wickedness
Light vs Darkness
Christ vs Belial
Believer vs Unbeliever
Temple of God vs Idols
Image: aboodi vesakaran/Pexels
Paul reminds us that we are the temple of God. So, as believers, we can now trust what God has said that He will live with us, walk among us, and be our God and we His people. But the Lord tells us to come out and be separate, not to touch any unclean thing and He’ll receive us. Therefore, we can expect God to be a Father to us and we’ll be His sons and daughters.
Further, in 2 Corinthians 7/NIV, Paul tells us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, “perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Hence, since we love and respect our Father, we honor Him by living holy and separate from the sinful life that grieves Him.
Image: Hagerty Ryan, USFWS/Pixnio
This doesn’t mean we don’t pray for and show love toward those who don’t believe, but we aren’t to yoke ourselves to them. This can be seen in the Bible’s commands that believers only marry believers. There should only be bonding and connection in this manner to believers. He gives us these commands for a reason. They aren’t to be a means of haughtiness or conceit, but of protection as the bible clearly tells us “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:9/NIV)
video: BYJUSClass910/Youtube
There’s no mistaking the awesome privilege of God’s grace and mercy toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. However, there is clearly still work to be done where we recognize what contaminates, defiles, or corrupts our bodies and spirits and cleanse ourselves of those things as shown in 2 Corinthians 7/NIV. We should not be mistaken on this, as some might have us to be, because God expects this of us. If He didn’t, He would not have expressed it in His word.
Revelation 18:4/NIV tells us, “Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins so that you will not receive any of her plagues; … .” This is another instance of God requiring separation.
Image: Chris Clark/Pexels
We are wise to assess ourselves and where we are in Christ, as we’re reminded in Revelation 22:12/NIV, ““Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done…, ” and Revelation 22:14-15/NIV, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” We want to live eternally with Christ and don’t want the consequences of being disobedient to His commands.
Moreover, we should not be surprised about the popularity of ungodly living. God has warned us ahead of time, that according to Matthew 7:13-14, we are to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Image: Adam/Flickr
In any event, we all have been given the right to choose whose way we will follow: our own, another wayward man’s, or God’s. Nevertheless, a sobering thought is Revelation 22:11, “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
While remaining alert to how we yoke ourselves in relationships, whether marriage, career, dating, business, etc., may we choose to remember these words of our Lord, ” I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11/NIV)
Freedom. Nothing seems to ring more blessed to one’s ears than this word. It is described by Oxford Languages as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” The Bible’s Hebrew word for it is “cherut”, and its Greek word, “eleutheria”. Both denote liberty, “a state of freedom, especially as opposed to political subjection, imprisonment, or slavery” (britannica.com). It is also a state where God has given us the ability to choose right or wrong in our daily decisions.
What makes you feel free? Is it the ability to say whatever you want, whenever you want? The ability to sleep in on a weekday without disturbance? The ability to go on a shopping spree anytime you want? Or, perhaps the ability to take a weekend trip away at any hour you choose?
Those of us who have chosen to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give our hearts and lives to Him, understand that “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” and that we should stand firm, not letting ourselves be “burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
To do this, we must have knowledge of those things that bind or constrict us; those things that cause us to feel imprisoned, and how to rid ourselves of them. If the Bible tells us that God’s people perish for lack of knowledge, we can expect that we are also hindered by it.
Helpful to the maintenance of our freedom is renewing our mind (Romans 12:2) with the study of His word, the Bible, so as not to be “conformed to this world, but transformed”, so by testing we may discern the will of God. Hence, Psalm 119:45, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”
Let’s remember to walk in the freedom Christ has given us. He came to set the captives free from the state of bondage in which we once found ourselves.
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More scriptures to remember on freedom:
Isaiah 61:1 (The Year of the Lord’s Favor) The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 2:4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
Ephesians 3:12 In Him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
1 Peter 2:16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
James 2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
It’s interesting how with all the wisdom the Bible provides regarding trusting the Lord for protection, it instructs us in the practical ways to live safely.
There’s a passage in Proverbs 2 that teaches us that wise choices will watch over us and understanding will keep us safe. This means we should seriously consider and pray about our options regarding any decisions we make in life. What might be the outcome and what are the related costs? Having a good understanding of all of the elements involved and their effect on our lives, along with seeking God’s will in each case, will provide protection from unnecessary, future distress.
This passage also teaches us that wisdom will save us from people who don’t mean us well and who use words that are unhealthy or distorted. Further, it indicates that these people turned from a right path onto a wrong one which leads to darkness and corruption. These are people who enjoy doing wrong and the perverted ways of wickedness. These are people who only bring problems to your life and should be avoided.
In this new year, we should make it our aim to gain wisdom and understanding for making godly choices in all areas of our lives. The Bible has more than enough information to help us gain all the wisdom and understanding we need. We just need to apply ourselves by taking some time during the day to read and pray. This needn’t be a lengthy amount of time, but just a consistency of time, so that we are successful in acclimating ourselves to God’s character and principles.
In this age of information technology, there are so many convenient resources available to us. Not to mention the traditional ways of learning via counsel from people personally, or through books or other forms of media.
Doesn’t it feel good to know you can be safe, avoiding unnecessary trouble and deception through wise decision-making? I’m so glad God has given us His very own word for assistance.
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Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. ~Proverbs 2:11-14/NLT
Many of us have heard and thought about God, but feel at a loss in seeking or getting to know Him. We’re accustomed to our ways of interacting with other human beings, but the thought of truly knowing a supreme being may appear to be out of our reach. We may even have a desire to worship such a person but don’t feel we have the tools to be successful in doing so. Yet we can be comforted in knowing that Jesus, “…the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10/NLT). Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:8/NLT, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” We can be confident that when we seek God with all of our hearts, we will find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13).
The three ways I have sought and found God are through:
PRAYER
Prayer is simply communicating with God. We position ourselves to receive from Him when we, first, establish a relationship with Him by which we:
Acknowledge, Repent, and Submit to God. Our prayer should be one of acknowledgment, repentance, and submission, accepting His Son, Jesus, as the Savior by which we are reconciled to God. We understand the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) had made us guilty of sin, and worthy of death, after which our Heavenly Father provided atonement for our dire consequences. Repentance is our willingness to turn from our old ways of doing and being to God’s ways. By submitting, we yield ourselves to His authority and participate in baptism, where we express identification with the Lord’s death and resurrection, carried out via the Lord’s gifts discussed later.
As we communicate with God we also offer Him:
Thanksgiving and Praise. Gratitude, adoration, and worship for all that He is and does for us.
Supplications. Making our requests known to Him.
We can communicate with God at any time because the bible tells us He is omnipresent, capable of being everywhere at the same time. “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth? says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:24/NLT). However, it would be a good habit of discipline to schedule a time daily to meet with God consistently during periods when there are fewer distractions. We choose a time when we feel most alert and at ease to spend time with God, whether for 15 minutes or an hour or more.
THE BIBLE
In seeking God, the Bible is to be respected as the necessary guide for living a Christ-like life by the power of the Holy Spirit. It contains the history and future of God’s relationship with mankind and contains His attributes, character, and will for our lives. I’d say the Bible is the chief way of seeking Him; getting to know Him, and what He expects of us. Reading or studying alone, and/or with others, is crucial to strengthening our faith and growth. “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Romans 10:17/NLT). Further, we know that seeking the Lord through His word is pleasing to Him. “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6/NLT).
THE BODY OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
As the Body of Christ, we have been given gifts. The bible names, these gifts in Ephesians 4:11/NLT: “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” After seeking God for His will for our lives in the place He chooses, and availing ourselves of these gifts (of which we may eventually become ourselves) we mature, growing in our faith into those who resemble our Lord in word and deed. “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29/NLT).
Perhaps the most precious gift working with us today is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who has been described as our Counselor, Comforter, and Advocate, and endues us with power for godly living and ministry. “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26/NLT). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8/NLT).
We have so many resources available to us as we seek God. He has given us various additional gifts to help us to be successful in glorifying God in our families, careers, local church ministries, and simply, everyday life. I’m remembering 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and the nine gifts of the Spirit: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Not to mention the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All of this and more involves seeking God, and as we do, we get to know Him, grow, and function in His grace as His very own children, dearly loved.
Yes! So, with all the excitement of shopping, giving, singing, and eating, the true reason for the season is never really lost, though for some forgotten. God has been merciful to us and given us a Savior who has delivered us from our sins. He provided the atonement to reconcile us to Himself and surely we are glad about it!
Of course, we know that December 25th is not the date on which He was born (as far as we know). However, we have the freedom to celebrate responsibly as we choose! Isn’t that a blessed thing?
Image by Drazen Zigic on FreePik
To realize that the one who has lived since the very beginning, who sees past the very end, loves and wants us for eternity? He left his home of infinite glory to be born of a mere woman and live a life of what must have seemed like misery to bring us into an intimate relationship with himself. What can be greater than that? Other than to lay down that life in pain and torture as the supreme sacrifice for those He loved.
The definition of this day of celebration is of such great importance to the world even though so many may not know or want to understand it. So I encourage you to celebrate in any way you know how to show your gratitude and realization of the truth of the matter: God Almighty loves us immensely!
I can only hope that when we’ve reached that most high place of abundant joy in heaven, Jesus will somehow display that great rewind of the event when both Mary and Joseph were enlightened to that miraculous time to come when they would conceive and raise the Son of the Most High God: Immanuel!
I’m wishing you all the joy and happiness of the season: Merry Christmas!
Ms. Rita's Minute 