February 2 – Be Hungry. Be Thirsty.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  -   Matthew 5:6  (NASB)

Our promise verse today comes again from the Sermon on the Mount and from what are call the Beatitudes. The Blessings or the Happiness promises. This passage of scripture delivered by Jesus is a description of what is required of those who wish to enter the Kingdom of God.  Satisfaction is promised in today’s verse.  The hunger and thirst are our strong desire, our driving passion for righteousness. These words communicate to us a deeply felt need.  It’s rare for us ever to be truly hungry or thirsty. We have ready access to instant food and drink at any time. But people in the ancient world didn’t have that wonderful advantage, and famine was very common and so was drought. What do we really hunger for? The answer to that question, will tell us whether we are a kingdom citizen or not.  We should ask ourselves, what is the driving ambition of our life? What is it that we really long for?  Jesus says, the people who are entering my kingdom and those who are members of my kingdom, have a real hunger and thirst for righteousness. And those are the only ones who will know spiritual satisfaction.

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November 12 – Pure and Godly Happiness

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  -  John 15:11 (ESV)

Have we ever taken time to consider that our God is a Happy God and why He has so much joy?.  These words Jesus was saying to his disciples, just prior to His arrest  which lead to his execution by crucifixion.  It is nearly impossible to imagine Jesus, knowing what was soon to happen experienced joy and was wishing His joy to fill his disciples.  God the Father was allowing His One and Only Son to be lead to the cross to die.  He so loved the world that He gave us Jesus and the result of His gift is our opportunity for salvation.  God's happiness was the foundation of His delight in what was happening and what it meant to the world. That was what He was so Happy about, the worst thing imaginable would bring the best thing possible for us.  That was His joy and should be our joy if we know now why it all had to happen.   

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August 14 – Yet I Will Rejoice

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Our verse today is from a prayer written by the prophet Habakkuk in the Old Testament. It mentions the possibility of severe hardships we might face. When we do, faith become a matter of devoted allegiance to our God.  It is then we must have confidence in Him regardless of our circumstances.  The promise for us here here is that Our Lord is a source of real joy for those who know Him. We might think we find happiness from the things in the world, and when things are going our way, we find ourselves glad. But such things do not last. Our circumstances change and when they do, let's  say, along with Habakkuk, that although all our resources and reserves are gone, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord” Lasting joy is found in trusting the Lord. The prophet experienced this true joy and that why he wrote this prayer.

January 3

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3 (NIV)

We know that many of the songs in our Bible were composed by David. Have you ever wondered where he got all the inspiration to write so many of the Psalms? If we had read the first verse of this psalm, we would have seen that David was telling what the Lord had done for him. So it was the Lord who put songs in his mouth. And each time David could say it was a new song that the Lord had put in his mouth. We may not be song writers, but we can experience a new song of praise in our hearts. God gives us songs. As we praise Him, let’s remember that He is the one that inspires it.

January 2

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

Have you made any new resolutions? We do have this verse to think about today which expresses the attitude that the apostle Paul had toward the years ahead of him. It was very important for Paul to keep before him the goal which God had set for Him. He earnestly wanted to attain that goal. God has a goal for each of His children. Each of us can decide to press on during this year to reach that goal – to live a life pleasing to Him and to become what He wants us to be. Let’s tell our Lord that this is our desire now as this New Year begins.

January 1

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” Psalm 73:23 (NIV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We do know there is happiness in store for you during this coming year if you are trusting in the Lord. The psalmist who wrote these words was trusting Him. We can think of ourselves as the psalmist did, being led through coming days by the Lord, our hand in His. Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the way the Lord leads His own? There is something very reassuring by the close contact this implies. And that is the way He wants to lead us to be sure we are near Him and responsive to the guidance he wants to give. Remember though, that for God to lead us by the hand we must put our hand into His by a voluntary decision. Let us say today with the psalmist: “Your hold me by my right hand.”