Day 35 – Bringing Joy

Pastor Ira Towns

 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.  Jude 1:24-25 (NIV1984)

Have you ever watched a toddler beginning to walk?  A dad or mom will stand over the child and gently hold onto their hands and help them shift the weight from one foot to the next.  EVERY child is awkward and kind of wobbly, and yet the child is learning, and is safe all at the same time.  That is what I picture when I read these verses.  Our incredible, loving father is able to do so much for us.  He can keep us from falling as we grasp his hands and learn to walk.  He can guide us through all of the hazards of life IF we will let him.  Like the proud parent who is showing off his child to anyone who would care to look, God will present us as perfect or without fault WITH GREAT JOY!  How awesome is that?  No wonder he deserves the glory and majesty and power and authority.  You, my dear friends, are God’s dearest treasures—in all of your gawkiness and awkwardness.  You bring him great joy.  Now, go make him proud!

{Dear Daddy, thank you for loving me so much.  Help me today!  I am awkward and wobbly but I do want to make you proud.  I trust you to lead me where you need me to go today, even if it seems scary and unsafe to me.  Help me to relax into your strong and safe hands.}

 

>>>> To get these posts sent directly to your email each day, subscribe in the column to the right!

Day 10 – PURE joy

Melissa Cardwell

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3  (NIV)

Consider it PURE joy when we go through trials of every kind. What a crazy statement! In this world, it seems that we would be more joyful going through peaceful times. But when looking at it from a perspective outside of our own, God shows us that it really is a blessing to persevere through the stressful, sad, anxious, and trying times. This life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Over time, we start to develop the ability to keep on running even though we’re tired, have a cramp, and can barely breathe anymore. But the finish line is so near. It’s so promising. So, we persevere. We need to keep persevering, because when we do, we will receive God’s blessings and will bless others along the way.

{Lord, give me strength as I try to persevere through the troubles in this world. I know that you will hold and guide me through the good and bad, but please show yourself to me in those times. Let me see your works in every area of my life. Let me be a beacon of light in this world as I face the struggles in my own life. Please use and guide me in all that I do. In Your name.}

To get these posts sent directly to your email each day, subscribe in the column to the right!