Posts Tagged ‘rejoice’

5 really important sentences…

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Joy, April 19

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophecies.
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil.

1Thessalonians 5:16-22, www.solascriptura.com

Father, in 5 sentences, Paul teaches us the basics of our faith. We are equipped by You to rejoice always, in good times and in bad times. It is Your Holy presence with us and in us that enables us to raise our eyes and hearts to you when everything around us seems to be a severe weight upon our shoulders.

We often fail to pray unceasingly but here we see it is Your will that we never stop acknowledging Your presence in every small and every large event of our lives. Not a hair falls from our head that You do not notice. Help us observe You with equal attention and ask You into every circumstance of our lives.

We do not always give thanks when we are being challenged but again, it is Your will we do so because You are allowing us to be tested. We do not enjoy the test but we do look forward to an eternal victory as You lead us through what sometimes feels like an unsolvable problem.

We know that to quench the Spirit is to remove You from the situations we encounter. Father, we acknowledge that absent the presence of the Spirit, we are depending upon ourselves. In such cases we are going it alone. We pray that is never the case.

Father, despising teaching is the path of a self centered, self directed person. Help us learn from the prophets and from You Jesus. Your word is truth and it abides forever.

Help us this day to abstain from evil, to flee from it, never to gaze upon that which is sinful. It feels so good to do the right thing and we feel so weak, so impotent when we allow sin to fill our mind and our eyes. We feel tricked by Satan, the great deceiver, when we entertain sin. We simply want to be as You Jesus. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, Hope, Prayer, faith, joy, peace | 8 Comments »

What feels better? Giving or receiving…

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Prayer, Part 2, March 22

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2, www.solascriptura.com

Dear Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we do praise You from the depths of our soul. There is no one or nothing that deserves our praise and our attention like You.

We look to all that You have given us that we are able to use and enjoy. We rejoice in Your omniscience for no one but You could have conceived such a perfect circumstance for us to know You and experience Your presence, constantly.

Jesus, help us take nothing for granted in terms of the gifts You have given us. Help us use those gifts to bring glory to Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Hope, Inspirtation, Prayer, Worship, joy | 13 Comments »

When you meet Jesus, will He say, welcome friend…

Monday, February 27th, 2012

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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Posted in Perseverance, Worship, faith, joy, salvation | 54 Comments »