Photo: Sheila Tulok
Good morning! Did you know that it is possible to have joy even when facing complications and trials? Each and every time I pray to God or search for guidance in a troubling situation I eventually receive peace, and joy. He hears our prayers and our cries.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, keeps careful watch over us, like a shepherd tending sheep. He has chosen us, perhaps you have started to realize today that He has chosen you! God does not look at people as being valuable and acceptable based on the world’s typical standards. Physical strength, intelligence, education levels, wealth, status, appearance and the like are not measured and favoured with God. God knows our imperfections and loves us regardless. If some of these imperfections are causing us to sin, God will lead us out of those sins, through discipline, warnings, and helpful encouragement. We don’t need to measure up before we go to God in prayer. We don’t have to try to impress Him to gain His love and acceptance. God prefers mercy over judgement. He would rather bless us than judge us. Does this mean we should take advantage of His lovingkindness and see how much we can get away with? No, most certainly not. Some troubles we have, like an addiction, may take several attempts to overcome, but God is with us each and every step of the way. Just like a baby learning to walk, it is awkward sometimes to change and learn new skills. God is our helper and provider of everything good. He doesn’t just give up on us like sometimes we might want to give up on ourselves after repeated attempts at success in a particular endeavour.
When we have failed ourselves or others, God’s love remains constant. Joy is one of the blessings he bestows on us, even when we don’t measure up! This is good news. Certainly frustration, anger and bewilderment can follow attempts at changing and improving areas in our lives that need to be bettered. You can have joy this morning. Let’s look at scripture to learn of the joy that can come from reading and believing His word, The Holy Bible , regardless of how many or whatever may oppose us!
Psalm 5 NKJV ( New King James Version- near the middle)
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into Your house
in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness;
Make Your way straight before my face.
9 For their is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.
11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favour You will surround him as with a shield.
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Dear Father, if we have joy this morning, may you increase it. If we are lacking joy may you give us a taste of it and increase it daily with added measure. Most importantly, help us realize that true joy comes from You. Please help us to constantly reach for You, like a flower reaches for the sunlight. May today be for us, a day of joy and relief, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Morning Inspiration. 