Remember that we are still under the section of verses grouped by the heading of "Joy, God's Kind of Happiness." So when you read this week's verse, how does it relate to feelings of joy for you?
Paul tells us that we should present our requests to God through prayer and petition with thanksgiving...it's hard to give sincere thanks without a heart that also has the presence of joy within it, don't you think?
The whole situation that Paul describes for us should reaffirm to us all the reasons that we, as Christians, have for being joyful. We can bring our worries to our Father and give thanks to Him for caring for us. I challenge you to study other world religions and find in them a reason to have the joy that our faith in Jesus Christ brings. Perfect love casts out fear...Jesus is that perfect love. I challenge you to find another explanation of who God is that also allows it's adherents to bring their requests before God and have any assurance that their requests have been heard or that they have reason to believe that their worries can be replaced with confidence in a loving God.
Jesus Christ alone has removed the barrier between God and man. He allows us, through His atoning sacrifice and the mercy that His blood offers to those who trust in Him, to approach God with confidence of His love for them. We can present our cares and concerns and replace a heart previously filled with worry, with a heart overflowing with joy.
Paul tells us that we should present our requests to God through prayer and petition with thanksgiving...it's hard to give sincere thanks without a heart that also has the presence of joy within it, don't you think?
The whole situation that Paul describes for us should reaffirm to us all the reasons that we, as Christians, have for being joyful. We can bring our worries to our Father and give thanks to Him for caring for us. I challenge you to study other world religions and find in them a reason to have the joy that our faith in Jesus Christ brings. Perfect love casts out fear...Jesus is that perfect love. I challenge you to find another explanation of who God is that also allows it's adherents to bring their requests before God and have any assurance that their requests have been heard or that they have reason to believe that their worries can be replaced with confidence in a loving God.
Jesus Christ alone has removed the barrier between God and man. He allows us, through His atoning sacrifice and the mercy that His blood offers to those who trust in Him, to approach God with confidence of His love for them. We can present our cares and concerns and replace a heart previously filled with worry, with a heart overflowing with joy.
2 comments:
My daily devotional today reads, "as you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Christ, you will find that you simply have no time for worry". Joy can be constantly with us as we devote our conscious mind on Christ Jesus. He provides for us so we can be joyful in our lives and spread that feeling to others. We have confidence in God and that results in joy in our hearts.
Perfectly worded Donna! "He provides for us so we can be joyful in our lives and spread that feeling to others."
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