Reason to Rejoice

"Sing for joy, O heavens!

Rejoice, O earth!

Burst into song, O mountains!

For the LORD has comforted his people

and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Yet Jerusalem says,

'The LORD has deserted us;

the Lord has forgotten us.'"

Isaiah 49:13-14 NLT

I have every reason to rejoice yet I often feel depressed, as if God has deserted me, leaving me to face this harsh world alone.  My feelings easily deceive me into thinking all is lost and my life is a waste, in shambles, beyond repair.  Does the suffering I currently endure mean I am forgotten by the One who created me in His image?  Or is my focus off, am I looking in the wrong place? 

Let's take a look at God's promises to His wayward people, and learn how to negotiate this rocky path of life with a song in our heart!

Restoration.  Whether I know it or not, restoration in mine through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  God responded to the brokenness of the world He created, the bondage His people endured, the darkness in which His sheep groped by sending the long-awaited Messiah (Isaiah 49:8-12).  He sent His Son to make all things right, to free the captives and to shed His Light in a dark world (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 61:1-3 John 1:5).  And this indescribable response of God still impacts us today.  Even now Jesus is being offered to mankind as a way to restore that which has been ruined by sin.

When I turn away from my sin, ceasing to think of it as my friend and instead embrace this Jesus by faith, donning Him like a garment, I will find the forgiveness I need in order to forge a bond with the One who loves me perfectly.  I then can relate to Him as a daughter to a Father, not an earthly father who sometimes fails and lets me down, but as a heavenly Papa who knows exactly how to provide, lead, and love in a way that quenches every thirst and fulfills every desire.  Through the blood of Jesus, my standing as God's child is reestablished and I am firmly implanted in His family forever (1 John 3:1).

God's promise to restore His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).  Of this great treasure may my heart always sing!

Comfort.  I try to avoid it like I do the IRS, doing whatever I can to keep from being tainted by its agony.  I would do anything to prevent it's access to my life.  Still, suffering comes, inflicting devastation and heartache.  Why can't I catch a break?  I wonder.  Must my life always be tainted by this poison that contaminates the plan I have for my life?  My desire for a pain-free existence?  The expectation that I can enjoy at least a moment free from sorrow?

While it may seem more than I can bear (and perhaps I'm a bit dramatic and narrow in my assessment of the situation I face), there is a great benefit to encountering misery.  If my life was always free from all anguish, I would never experience the comfort of my Father (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  He consoles my hurting heart in a way that only He can.  I find relief from the pain when I sink into His loving arms, experiencing Him in a more intimate way as I rest in His lovingkindness.  My understanding of His nature grows as I see this caring and gentle side of Him.  Even more astounding is the fact that through Jesus Christ I have access to my Father at all times, able to approach Him in order to receive all that I need in order to negotiate the rocky paths I encounter (Hebrews 4:16).  

God's promise to comfort His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ who ushers believers into the presence of the great Comforter.  Of this great treasure may I always rejoice!

Compassion.  The gods of this world are cold and calculating, each with an agenda of their own that brings about some form of suffering upon their people.  While they are impotent to actually become who their legends proclaim them to be, millions subscribe to their beliefs, appeasing them with the hope that they can give some sort of favor.  Followers are willing to risk the consequences that may come from trusting in such a risky proposition with the chance that they might benefit from such a relationship.  There is always the risk, however, of ticking off the gods and enduring their retaliation.

Thankfully, God is not prone to flying off the handle and lashing out in a rage.  In fact, if He were to truly give mankind what we deserved, we wouldn't live another moment (Psalm 103:10, 130:3).  In His mercy He allows each of His image-bearers ample time to come around to our senses so that we can accept the free gift of salvation He offers through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).  As is written, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22).  Nowhere is this love more evident than in the sending of God's precious Son to save a wicked people (Romans 5:8).  

God's promise to have compassion on His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.  May this great treasure always cause me to burst into song!

Living in this dark world can leave me in despair.  I tend to look around me at all that is wrong and look within and find nothing good.  When I turn my eyes upon Jesus, however, and see Him for who He is, I discover there is much to set my heart to singing!  I've been restored, am given the benefit of a wonderful Comforter and daily discover how much he cares.  In Jesus Christ I have every reason to rejoice!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to see Him as He truly exists.

When do I focus on the mess around me instead of on God's goodness?

How am I now receiving the comfort of God?        

This is the Lord's Day

"This is the day that LORD has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 NLT

I was the poster child for Murphy's Law.  Everything that could go wrong that morning, did go wrong.  The coffee maker broke.  I tore a hole in my favorite pair of socks.  In my haste, I busted my shoelaces.  The gas gauge was on empty.  Traffic was unusually heavy, causing me to be late.  My morning was not off to a good start.

On days like this, it is easy to focus on the negative, letting all that is going wrong bring me down.  God, however, has a different intention for me.  Instead of thinking about all that is bad, He would rather I focus on all that is good. (Philippians 4:8) There is much in which to rejoice and be glad this day; it just might take a little effort to find the blessings that are mixed in with the struggles.

Life.  Every breathe I take is a gift from the One who graciously gave me life in the first place.  (Psalm 139:13-18)  Sometimes, however, just the fact that I am still alive and kicking does not seem like a reason to rejoice.  After all, I may have a wicked day before me or the pain, heartache and struggle may give me cause to wonder as to the purpose for such a dismal existence.

Even though my life may not feel so much like a gift right now, of this I can be sure: Jesus came so that He could deliver not a mediocre life where I barely survive, but an abundant life which brings me great joy.  (John 10:10)  Such richness and meaning is not based on material wealth, worldly success or even popularity. In fact, it's not based on my circumstances at all. Instead, it is found in the joy of intimately knowing the One who made me.  

I was made for relationship with Him.  When I enter into such a meaningful relationship with the God of heaven and earth through faith in Jesus Christ, I will find my life to take on a new perspective.  The things that used to make me happy now seem meaningless. (Philippians 3:7-9) Now, in tandem with the One who loves me perfectly, I can weather any storm, walk through any difficulty, or withstand any trial.  (Philippians 4:13)

Through Jesus Christ, life can give me great joy!

Provision.  Every good thing I have ever enjoyed, or even those I took for granted, are gifts from the Father of heavenly lights.  (James 1:17)  He never fails to give me exactly what I need when I need it.  The problem is, my faulty line of thinking gives me the wrong perspective, causing me to look for what I don't really need and desire things that seem good but are really quite destructive.

Therefore, when I don't receive the things my heart is set on, I can trust God that He is protecting me from what may be harmful, what could draw me away from Him, or what could suck me into a downward spiral.  He can be trusted to choose what is best for me. (Philippians 4:19) If I wait on Him and His timing, I will never be disappointed.  (Isaiah 40:31)

As a child of God through faith in Christ, I no longer need to run after the things I think I need in order to live.  Instead, I can busy myself with doing what my Father has called me to do and let Him supply my needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) This means my life will look much different from the lives of those around me who are focused on going after what they want.

Through Jesus Christ, my needs are perfectly met!

This is the day the Lord has made.  Is there anything in which I can rejoice?  Yes!  I have not just life and breathe, but the gift of a rich and meaningful life as well the promise of being well-cared for by the God with endless resources.  Yes, I do have much in which to rejoice if I would only look in the right place.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can look for the good God is doing all around me.

When do I let the cares of this world bring me down?

How am I tossed around like a ship in the sea instead of standing firm on the Solid Rock? 

True Worship

"Do not worship the LORD your God 

in the way these pagan peoples

worship their gods."

Deuteronomy 12:4

The man rang my neighbor's doorbell one afternoon.  Seeing that he was a solicitor for a lawn maintenance company, she told him that he was in a "No Solicitation" neighborhood as posted by the Sheriff's department on a sign positioned at the opening of the community.  He replied, "Oh, that's okay.  I'm not selling anything.  I'm just taking samples of homeowners' soil."  He then proceeded to step into her yard to do his work.  She called the Sheriff's department and charged him with trespassing.  Even though his purpose for taking the sample was to try to sell his service to the homeowner's, he had tried to pretend he was there for other reasons.  His deception got him into trouble.

Doing things my way and using my own definition of right and wrong rarely works out well.  In fact it usually ends in a mess.  I can rationalize my actions, calling it something else, but in the eyes of God it's still rebellion.  In the same way, God gave me specific instruction on how to worship Him in the way I live my life.  I can do what seems right to me, but in the end I will find it leads me nowhere and gets me into trouble.  

The message of the world in which I live leads me far away from God.  I can't combine a worldly attitude with one that pleases God. . . it just doesn't work.  If I want to truly honor God with my life, I need to live His way.

Break Strongholds

Everything that is more important than God in my life is considered to be an idol.  It could be relationships, material items, hobbies, careers or belief systems.  Whatever it is, if I can't give it up in a heartbeat without a backward glance, it is an idol.  


Back in the time of Moses, God's people had to physically destroy idols and their places of worship.  Today it's more complicated.  My idols are interwoven into my psyche, a part of my culture and way of thinking.  To break a stronghold of a certain false idea or ungodly habit, I must surgically remove it from my being and cast it away, turning my back on something that has become a part of who I think I am.  


In breaking the bond these idols hold on my life, I am giving God permission to be Lord of that area.   I am saying to God that, "You are more important to me than ___________________."


The Apostle Paul advised Timothy to teach his congregation to go after, "godliness with contentment." (1 Timothy 6:6)  It is important to constantly check myself and test whether or not God is of the utmost importance in my life.  


Pastor Paul Pepin came up with a simple "godliness with contentment" test .  He said the following will exist in a heart that is fully committed to God:  Gratefulness, lack of comparing myself to others' lives or to my own expectations, no attempt to fill a void with 'stuff', acceptance of a gain or loss in life as God's choice for me, and possession of godly ambition.


If I am to be truly satisfied in life, I must want God more than I desire anything else.  


The world says I can have it all, but God says I must make a choice.

Rejoice Together  

We live in a very individualistic society.  Family members retreat to their separate spaces to eat, study, work or relax.  The dinner table is becoming obsolete as the convenience of microwavable meals caters to our desire to please our personal desires.  People rarely get together in groups to celebrate anymore, except possibly at major holidays.  

But God desires for us to gather in His name, worshiping Him corporately, learning from His Word and sharing all that He has been doing in our lives.  In Deuteronomy 12:7, He instructed us to to go, "There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." 

Since we are now considered to be the church, it matters not where we meet.  What makes the difference is that we gather together and rejoice in what He is doing.  We share our blessings as a way of encouraging each other to continue on.   We celebrate His love for us.

One of the easiest ways of doing this type of worship is to re-institute the family dinner.  As we gather around the dining room table, we can make it a point to focus on how God is working and where He is blessing.  Make suppertime a time to worship God as we meet in His name.  Jesus said, ". . . where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)  I can set a place for Jesus at my family's table and see what happens!

The world says "every man for himself," but God says to rejoice together as we honor His name.

Live God's Way

I tossed the instructions aside.  My husband and I were putting together a bookshelf for my daughter's birthday.  We had built a few of these kinds of pieces and were convinced that we could figure it out on our own.  Once we had it all put together the way we thought it should go, we realized we were left with one finishing piece that didn't seem to fit anywhere.  

Finally, I consulted the directions and learned that the piece of molding was to be installed toward the beginning of the process.  Consequently, we had to take the shelf apart and start over again.  Doing it our way had cost us time and caused a bit of frustration.  Additionally, the piece of molding had been slightly damaged in our attempts to assemble it the wrong way, resulting in a flawed finished product.  

In the same way, God's people during the time of Isaiah the prophet had begun to worship God in a careless manner.  They lived their lives as those who did not know God, failing to pay attention to those who needed defending like widows, orphans and the oppressed, then they arrogantly entered the temple with their required sacrifices and offerings.  

They were observing all the feasts, celebrations and times of fasting, but their hearts were far from God.  They cared nothing for what was important to God.  Instead, they tried to check things off a list, hoping they looked holy enough in their actions to get by.  They were doing things according to what they thought looked good, but completely ignored God's instructions.

When I try to do things according to my own understanding, I can easily get caught up in doing things that are detestable to God. I'm not trying to hurt anyone, it's just that I can't determine on my own what is the best way to live.  

God made me and only He knows the way I should go about doing things.   His ways are higher than my ways so there is no way I can figure it out on my own.  In order to please God, I must pay attention to what He says is important.  My heart.  My motivation.  My focus.  

Lord, give me a clean heart that only desires to please you.  

The world says to do whatever feels good, but God says to live His way.

When I try to honor God with my life but continue to live like the world around me does, my efforts are detestable to the LORD.  Instead I can choose to break the strongholds that idols hold on my life, rejoice with my family of believers in all that God is doing, and to live God's way instead of the way I see fit.  When I do this, I will worship God the way in which He intended.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that You will be the only thing on my priority list. 

How do I continue to rely on my own way of thinking instead of following God?

When was the last time I ate a meal with my family?  

A Reason to Rejoice

I have set the LORD always before me.
   Because he is at my right hand,
   I will not be shaken.

 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
   nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:8-11

Wouldn't it be great to have your own personal advisor who is always at your side, ready to dispense wisdom and guidance any time you need it?

In this world of fluctuation and change, I need guidance.  If I rely on my own insight and reasoning, I will lead myself down the wrong path.  Thankfully, I do have a Counsellor who is always at my side.  And He's got the map for my journey!  

The thing about God is that even though I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and have entered into a personal relationship with Him, He does not force His way into my daily life.  I have to invite Him in.  I have to set Him before me.  And when I do. . . . I have many reasons to rejoice!

Death is no Longer an Issue

There is a saying that the only things you can count on in life are death and taxes.  While it is true that Uncle Sam always gets his cut, death is not inevitable for those who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  As believers, God has given us victory over death.

Knowing that I do not have to endure death and with it, separation from the One who is the giver of all good things, I can focus on life.  I need not fear the end of this life because it is simply a transition to the next.  For those who trust in Jesus, this transition will be joyous and something to eagerly anticipate.

While I live my temporary life here on earth, wherever it is that God has placed me, I can rejoice.  He has not abandoned me to the grave.  I have victory over death through faith in Jesus Christ!

I have reason to rejoice as a recipient of eternal life. 

The Path of Life is Illuminated

There are two paths to choose from in this life.  Jesus taught us to, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matthew 7:13-14) 

Even though the path to life is discreet, it is accessible to those who search for it.  God said that, "those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17)  He is available to those who are looking.  What a comfort when I am in despair, discouragement or in times of trouble.  God is there and He can be found!

I have reason to rejoice as a traveler of the narrow path that leads to life!

His Presence Fills me with Joy

My husband and I each have a recliner in our bedroom.  We can sit in each other's presence, reading or napping, without saying a word to each other.  Just being in his presence brings me joy.

It is the same with God.  He is always by my side, yet I so easily forget Him.  When I focus on His presence, my heart overflows with His love, grace and goodness.  No matter the circumstances of my life, I can honestly say that, " I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

With God by my side, I can endure any kind of hardship.  Perhaps even greater, because of His overwhelming love, He sticks with me despite my wretchedness.  When I think of all the ways I fall short of His standard, and how I can never live up to His expectations, yet He still accepts me as one of His children through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. . . I realize that I have more than enough reason to rejoice!

I have reason to rejoice as a child of God who can dwell in His presence!

As I invite God into my daily life, I find reasons to rejoice despite my circumstances.  I no longer face death, I am travelling the path that leads to life, and as His child I can count on His presence in my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will invite God into every moment of this day.

How do I shut God out of my life, only giving Him access during certain times?

Have I been choosing to rejoice in all the good He has given me, or do I tend to choose sorrow and despair?

This is the Day

"The stone the builders rejected
   has become the capstone;
the LORD has done this,
   and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24



There is a lot of rejoicing going on at Christmastime.  The angels brought good news of great joy to the shepherds culminating in a concert performed by a choir of angels singing praises to God.  Rejoicing in this news, the shepherds joyfully visited the baby lying in a manger and left glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard.  Simeon, a man at the temple who was filled with the Holy Spirit, praised God when He held the Christ child eight days later,  as did the prophetess Anna when she recognized the Messiah and told everyone about the redemption that was coming through Jesus.  Magi from the East were overjoyed when they saw the star which heralded the birth of our Savior, and they followed it until they came to the place where He lay in order that they could worship Him.

Many of us are joyful at this time of year, but most of the reasons we use to celebrate have nothing to do with that first Christmas, over 2000 years ago!  The best motivation for a party lies hidden in filthy borrowed stable, visible only to those who are watching and paying attention. 

A capstone is the final piece laid in the making of a stone wall or structure.  It is formed to certain specifications in order that it can be placed exactly according to the blueprint, thus completing the masonry project.  There is surely great rejoicing as the final stone in slid into place, bringing to an end months of planning and labor. 

In Luke 20:9-17, Jesus revealed himself as the capstone referred to in Psalm 118.  After years of prophecies telling of the coming of a Messiah, and of countless deaths of those who came to tell, the time had finally come to complete God's plan by sending His own Son to take the punishment for the sin of all mankind; a reason to rejoice, indeed!

Rejected  Not everyone rejoices at the fulfillment of so many prophecies in the birth of a baby born to a young girl.  But, as Paul taught in I Corinthians 1:18, ". . . the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  Jesus is rejected by many as the rightful King of all Kings.

God's Handiwork  Only a Master Planner could formulate a blueprint in which the final piece would fit perfectly.  This is what God has done in sending Jesus to take our punishment so that I might live forever with Him.   It is completely a work of God's mighty Hand.  We cannot even recognize our need for Jesus without God's work in our lives.  Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." (John 6:44)   Additionally, salvation is offered freely to us by God.  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)  The Lord has done this!

Marvelous  George Gershwin penned a song called "s' Wonderful" whose chorus goes like this:

'S wonderful ! 'S marvelous !
(That) You should care for me !
'S awful nice ! 'S paradise !
'S what I love to see !

As you listen to the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald sing this classic, think of how marvelous it is that God should care enough for you that He sent His Son!

This is the day when I can celebrate that the One who was rejected by many has been sent by God to save us.  How marvelous: that gives me something to rejoice about!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember to rejoice in all that God has done.

How often do I forget the miracle of Jesus?

When do I find myself replacing the humble manger with other things at Christmastime?