Good day and give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, yes He is good and worthy of our praise. We are going to feast on the joy of the Lord today so get ready.
Today’s Prayer
Father, forgive us, Your people, for standing by while our nation slips further and further from its Christian heritage. … Each day we find ourselves being misinformed and misled by those who think that our nation’s problems can be solved by more taxes, more policemen, and more government spending. Open our eyes, Lord, to see that these are only “patches” on our country’s structure, while its moral foundations are being undermined. … Help us to see that unless we return to living by Your rules for morality — unless we teach each generation the value of being personally accountable, responsible, honest and caring — we will contribute to bringing on the downfall of our nation. … Oh Lord, help us to see that only repentance will save us — turning around and deciding to go Your way — because You can not and will not bless our sinful ways. In the matchless name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
FINDING JOY IN OBEDIENCE
Acts 5:40-42
Don’t get the idea that the will of God is something you have to do; God’s not going to force it on you. The will of God is something you get to do. When you learn to obey, you will learn the joy people talk about in the Christian life. There’s no such thing as a happy, disobedient Christian. That is a contradiction in terms. Verse 41 says, The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. ” I am telling you that obedience and rejoicing come together. It is a lie out of Hell that doing the will of God is painful and makes you miserable. The Bible says, “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Now the reason some of us don’t obey the Lord or understand there’s joy in obeying the Lord is that we don’t trust the Lord, and we struggle to take commands from a stranger. You get to know the Lord Jesus Christ and you will learn that His commands are not a burden. The Bible says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us” (1 John 4:10). His way is good; His way leads to life. It is a joy to have such clarity, direction, and purpose when we walk in Him!
- How have you seen God’s way as an obligation instead of as an opportunity?
- What changes when you see God’s way as a way you get to be with Him joyfully instead of as a difficult obligation?
Open yourself up to God in prayer. Be honest with Him about the hard parts of obedience and ask Him to grow your joy in following Him.
Quote of the Day
Prevailing prayer is prayer that pushes right through all difficulties and obstacles, drives back all the opposing forces of Satan, and secures the will of God. Its purpose is to accomplish God’s will on earth. Prevailing prayer is prayer that not only takes the initiative but continues on the offensive for God until spiritual victory is won. ~Wesley L. Duewel~