Posts Tagged ‘joy’
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Conscience, May 13
… I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have taught us that humility and contrition precede repentance and now we see that it is accompanied by sorrow, genuine sorrow for our sins. This sorrow is not the sort of sorrow the world feels about having made mistakes but it is sorrow leading to repentance and to the joy of a changed heart.
You teach us that this sorrow leads to joy, a cleansing of the spirit, a clear conscience, a zeal to serve You and a sense of no longer being guilty, having been vindicated by You Jesus. Father, we are not always successful in forgiving ourselves for our sins. We tend to forget how much You suffered for our sins, taking them upon Yourself at the Cross.
Help us, this day, to know that our sin is as separate from us as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. If You can, after much suffering, push our sins from Your sight, surely we can acknowledge and accept that cleansing.
The Scriptures say “east from west” because once you head east you will never be headed west unless you turn around and return to your sin. Not so, if You had said “north from south”, since if you go north long enough you will eventually be headed south, back to your sin. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy word. Keep us in it every day we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: contrition, Father, fear, Humility, Jesus, joy, repentance, sin, sorrow, zeal
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Inspirtation, Perseverance, Religion, peace, salvation | 1 Comment »
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
Prayer, May 11
God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.
That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.
…pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 67:3, 1Thessalonians 5:17-18, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when You shine Your light upon us You illuminate our hearts and You are truly a light unto our path. Help us never go forward in darkness, without You, Your counsel, and Your love. Father, You give us a clear path of service to you, that Your word might go throughout all the world. We praise You for equipping us to serve You. Help us to move beyond being spectators. Help us move onto the playing field!
We sometimes wonder how You can be so ever present. We know the word, “omnipresence”. Now help us realize how You can have a constant presence in our lives. All nature is a revelation of Your love and we sense Your presence in all that You have created and beyond that, we are accompanied by innumerable angels as we move about. The fact of Your omnipresence, in all things, humbles us and encourages us.
We are asked to pray without ceasing. Teach us this day how to implement that teaching. Help us include You in everything we do and think. It is Your will that we enjoy the fruits of Your Holy presence (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control), constantly. Our fleshly instincts take us in the opposite direction, too often. We seek to be like You, more and more. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, PO Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, counsel, Father, gentleness, God, goodness, Holy, Jesus, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, pray, Psalms 67:3, self-control, service
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer, Religion | 2 Comments »
Saturday, April 6th, 2013
Forgiven, April 6
… as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:12-13, www.solascriptura.com
Father, it is so right to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and so wrong to be the opposite of these words. We do not need anyone to tell us when we are bearing bad fruit, those behaviors which are clearly not within Your will for our lives.
If we yield the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we will be as “sanctified”, a posture we seek but which eludes us too often. Father, we need to be more consistent. We know, Jesus, that being like You, in our relationships, is Your desire for us. You equip us to do so when we ask. For Your forgiveness and empowerment, we are grateful.
Help us today to be forgiving towards people just as you are constantly there for us, always forgiving. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: anger, forgiveness, gentleness, hating, Hope, impatience, joy, patience, peace, self-control
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Forgiven, peace | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
Joy, March 27
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4, www.solascriptura.com
Father, it seems that the only way we could possibly feel joyful about experiencing trials, is to know that You permit the trial and that the trial will force our faith to be stronger.
Patience in the midst of a trial is the perfect work that You bestow upon us. It is the Spirit in us that permits our faith to remain strong even when the evidence all around us is making us feel persecuted, guilty or abandoned.
Enable us, we pray, to know, this minute and always, that trials will come but the trials will test and strengthen our faith and that we can, through You, endure and be patient. That is a miracle not available to someone who does not call on You.
We feel joyful Father, not about the trial but about Your grace to us that we might endure the test without falling apart. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: brethern, complete, faith, James 1:2-4, joy, patience, perfect, testing, trials, work
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Hope, Prayer, joy | 26 Comments »
Sunday, March 10th, 2013
Joy, March 10
Wait on the Lord;be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land…
… the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 37:34;39, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we are very impatient, by nature. Not only do we fail to wait upon Your leading but we naturally want to know what tomorrow will bring. You teach us to say “Lord willing” when we announce a goal or a plan of action. That helps remind us that we may make plans but we need to pause and to ask ourselves if we are truly consulting with You, praying for Your will to be done.
We see that in learning to wait upon You, our strength is renewed. Does that also mean that when we plunge ahead without You, we do so in weakness? Father, if You are to be our strength in times of trouble, surely we must take steps to make that be true.
We also see that in waiting upon You, we are strenghened, able to soar, as it were, as an eagle. Father, we want to access Your strength to run and not be weary, when all the evidence points towards our collapse. It is in Your strength and wisdom that we move forward, against all odds. How else could it be? What we begin in our own strength is a weak starting point. Help us today to make ambitious plans to serve You and our fellow man, relying upon You as our companion and tutor.
Father, may we exhort one another to love and obey Your Holy word and to keep Your way. Teach us new truths, afresh every day, so that the life You have given us might bring glory to you.
Help us Father not to be overwhelmed with the cares of this world, so preoccupied that we leave You out of the issues we face and the decisions we must make. Joy does not come easy to a burdened heart. Help us look past the moment and to focus on the perfection that awaits us. Our faith in Your love can and will sustain us.
We pray this day for your Spirit and our spirit to be as one. That is a huge hope, Father, but we know it is Your will for each of us. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: exalt, inherit, joy, Lord, Psalm 37:34;39, righteous, salvation, strength, trouble
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Industriousness, Perseverance, faith | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
Joy, February 27
In this (inheritance) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9, www.solascriptura.com
Father, As a result of Your grace and mercy, you promise us that through our faith in the resurrection of Jesus, we have eternal life. From this side we do not completely understand nor appreciate that which awaits but we will. Salvation from sin, suffering and weakness is assured. We know that joy and celebration will characterize heaven.
The tests here, some of which may be very severe, will continue but they too shall cease. Lead us, today, in paths of righteousness even in the presence of turmoil. Give us internal peace known by us and suspected by others. Give us a witness in this place.
We acknowledge that You have beckoned us to Your side. Thank You is an insufficient response. We will be awe struck as we meet, in person, the resurrected Christ, our Savior, Friend and Counselor. Prepare us for that moment. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, faith, genuineness, glory, gold, grieved, honor, Jesus, joy, love, perishes, praise, rejoice, salvation, tested, trials
Posted in Perseverance, Worship, faith, joy, salvation | 62 Comments »
Friday, February 15th, 2013
God’s Gifts, February 15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
2 Corinthians 9:15, Galatians 5:22-23, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when Paul uses the word “gift” in this verse, he calls it indescribable. Why would he say “indescribable? One reason may be that you shared some information with Paul that he was told not to share with us. He said they were “inexpressible” words which he was not permitted to utter, after being caught up in what he called “the third heaven”.
Father, if there is a third heaven, is there not a first and second heaven? Paul said he could not tell us but he does say the gift is “indescribable”. O’God, we really do see things “dimly” and we know that what is, is not what will be. The frustrations and difficulties of this life do not compare with the glory You will yet show us.
Father in the midst of the turmoil of this world, Paul reminds us of what we can experience right now. We look forward to no more pain and disabilities for eternity. Here and now You grant us the fruits of the Spirit, freely given to all who seek them; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. No matter how difficult life can be, these promises are to us all, right now. We praise You for Your love for us. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: faithfulness, fruit, gentleness, gifts, God, goodness, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, self-control, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Worship, faith, peace, salvation | 14 Comments »
Friday, February 1st, 2013
Joy, February 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us– that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
I John 1:1-4, www.solascriptura.com
Father, The beloved apostle John was a disciple, witness and friend of Jesus. John saw Jesus, listened to Him speak and touched Him. Here we learn again that Jesus was with You in the beginning and that He was a manifestation of You to us. Father, we know that Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father”. Thank You Father for providing us with a tangible reality, Your living Son. Father, we pray that this quotation from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity is helpful to us all.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. … Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God”.
We pray and declare these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: beginning, C.S.Lewis, eternal, Father, joy, witness, word
Posted in Christianity, Inspirtation, Religion, joy, peace | 53 Comments »
Sunday, January 20th, 2013
The Narrow Gate, January 20
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
…may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25, 1 Peter 5:10-11, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, the gate is narrow, but it is You that pushes it open, it is You that keeps us from stumbling, it is You who joyfully present us faultless to our Father God. It is You Jesus who has taught us, repeatedly, that we can only be “faultless” when Your righteousness envelops us.
Peter reminds us that we will suffer for a time, prior to entering into Your permanent peace, perfected and strengthened in You. Jesus, we are bombarded by sin from every side and we have learned, or are learning, to turn away from it but at the same time it keeps coming.
We come to You as babes, in terms of our Spiritual condition but help us today, grow quickly in our knowledge and dedication to You. You lift us up, You teach us, You sustain us. Thank You for that reality. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: dominion, faultless, gate, glory, God, joy, majesty, Narrow, perfect, power, Savior, strengthen, stumbling, suffered, wise
Posted in Christianity, Courage, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, joy | 20 Comments »
Saturday, January 5th, 2013
Joy, January 5
(Jesus said)”A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?”
They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
”Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
”A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
”Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
”And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
”Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:16-24, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, You taught Your disciples of Your impending crucifixion and they, at first, did not understand. We now stand on the other side of that event. You likened the depth of Your pain to childbirth, in that while it seemed unfathomable, shortly thereafter the joy of birth turned the pain into rejoicing in a new life, a child created in Your image. Jesus, You have gone through pain, disgrace and separation for each one of us and have emerged our risen Savior. Your suffering has led us to the portal of eternal life, to our Spiritual birth. Now we rejoice, not in the suffering, which we too will occasionally experience, but in the resurrection and redemption, first of You, then of us.
You then teach us that as Your children, You want to endow us with gifts. We know, because Your word teaches us, what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faith, goodness and self-control. Father, we beg You to fill us afresh, this day, with the fruits of the Spirit. These attitudes are so unlike the nature of this world. Help us trust and obey. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: birth, disciples, Father, heart, human, Jesus, John 16:16-24, joy, lament, sorrow, weep
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, joy, peace | 33 Comments »