Doesn't that lead-in make you want to sing the old VBS song, "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart!" We will add our second "joy" verse this week after getting Psalm 118: - what was that verse number? - oh yes, 24 (as in hours in a day) - Psalm 118:24 firmly in our hearts, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I have a very hard time not putting an exclamation point at the end of that verse, but since the Holy Scripture doesn't, I just can't bring myself to modify it. But don't you think the Psalmist really meant to? Maybe they didn't even have an exclamation point in the Hebrew language....?
In listing our verses to review, this week we'll drop off the section of verses regarding the promises of God to make room for our verses of joy...
Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy:God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
This week's verse follows closely on the heels of last week's....I think it's the New Testament version...
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Robert J. Morgan states that "Philippians 4:4-9 is Paul's personal six-point strategy for mental peace. Do you want some mental peace? I don't know many people in 2012 that do not long, at some time or another, for true mental peace. But rather then turning to the Bible for the therapeutic theology that it offers us, we more often turn to poor substitutes offered by the world. Let's look this week at the first step, as Morgan sees it, to Biblical mental peace. The first step is Philippians 4:4 - rejoicing in the Lord always...maybe we'll be singing, "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart"...before the week is over!
In listing our verses to review, this week we'll drop off the section of verses regarding the promises of God to make room for our verses of joy...
Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy:God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
This week's verse follows closely on the heels of last week's....I think it's the New Testament version...
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Robert J. Morgan states that "Philippians 4:4-9 is Paul's personal six-point strategy for mental peace. Do you want some mental peace? I don't know many people in 2012 that do not long, at some time or another, for true mental peace. But rather then turning to the Bible for the therapeutic theology that it offers us, we more often turn to poor substitutes offered by the world. Let's look this week at the first step, as Morgan sees it, to Biblical mental peace. The first step is Philippians 4:4 - rejoicing in the Lord always...maybe we'll be singing, "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart"...before the week is over!
1 comment:
My daily devotional "Jesus Calling" focuses on "Joy in this day". We must live within it's boundaries. Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in Jesus Christ, in His Presence today. The act of our Faith, frees us from resentment and allows God to work His ways into our situations, so that good comes from it.
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