Day 204  Let Us Rejoice And Be Glad

Isaiah 25:9 (NIV1984)

 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God;  we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

I love that word “surely.”  In this day and age when there is not much stability---politically, financially, emotionally---it’s good to know that “Surely this is our God…”

No matter what, God is there with His ‘everlasting arms” reaching out to scoop us up.  It doesn’t matter our age or how mature we think we are, God is big enough to pick us up and carry us up and over the instability that exists all around us.

When we trust in Him with child –like faith, we are safe in His arms no matter what the future holds.  He takes delight in taking care of His children.

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         Deuteronomy 33:  12, 27

·         Psalms 112:7

·         Proverbs 3:24

Prayer Focus:

Thank Your wonderful Father that as you rest in Him, His strong arms are holding you.  Your future is in good hands!

Day 203  It’s Time To Rise and Shine

Isaiah 60:1-2  Amplified Bible

ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

Today is the day of new beginnings.  My prayer for you today is that you would see things in a whole new light.  As the things in this world seem darker and darker, the Light of Jesus Christ is supposed to shine on us so we can reflect His love to a world who is worrying about so many things.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus through His Word will cause us to shine and reflect.  His glory is His presence.  We are called to carry His presence wherever we go—to the coffee shop, to the job, to the neighbors ….everywhere!  So lets not be the depressed ones.  Let’s stay close to His heart and shine for Him.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Luke 1: 78-79

·         Jeremiah 30:8  MSG

·         II Corinthians 3:17

Prayer Focus:

Thank your wonderful God that when you feel down, He picks you up.  Thank Him for His words of life found in the Bible that bring strength and energy and vision.

Day 202  God Is All About Increase

Psalm 85:12-13 (NIV1984)

The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

 Are you on your way somewhere and perhaps you have some real estate property to sell??  Well, here is a good word for you. Also if you are a farmer, this is really a good word for you to pray over your crops.

The King James Version of the Bible says, “our land will yield its increase.”

“Increase” is a good word because God is right in the middle of that word.  Hard work yields some but only God can yield the “increase.”

“Our land will yield it’s harvest.”  Land in the Bible was all about what one owns, whether it be a house or a car or anything that someone owns.  It also means “land.”  It could be your garden or your field.  It’s even your job—what you do yields an increase.

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         John 10:10

·         Philippians 4:19

·         Ephesians 3:20

Prayer Focus:

Bring your property to God and thank Him that God causes increase to come to you.  Thank Him that He has gone before you and prepared the way for you.

Day 201  God Is With You

2 Chronicles 20:17   The Message

Don't be afraid, don't waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you."

It’s so good to know that God is with us, especially in potentially fearful situations.

I encourage you to read all of 2 Chronicles 20.  The enemy had come to make war.  Jehoshaphat and his people had every reason to be afraid.  How did Jehoshaphat feel?  Verse three said that he was “alarmed!!”  But look what he did when that fear came upon him… he “resolved to inquire of the Lord….the people came together to seek help from the Lord.”

God has the specific answer for every situation that you find yourself in.  How do I know??  Because He always answers when I say, “What are we going to do about this, God?”  After all He is my Father!  Any good, well-meaning father would come right to his child’s aid in times of trouble--Our heavenly Father, so much more than any earthly father!

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         2 Chronicles 20- put yourself in that story

·         Exodus 14:13

·         2 Timothy 1:12

Prayer Focus:

Bring your fears to God and ask Him what to do in each situation.  Give Him time to answer you and then be sure to thank Him.

Day 200    Staying In The Presence of God

Exodus 33:15 (NIV1984)

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

I don’t know about you but I have had days when I did not feel the presence of God and they were not pleasant days.  Now that I have started each day having my “meeting” with God, it seems like His presence is so much more real!  I certainly like the latter better.  I think He enjoys our meetings.  I know I sure do!!  It makes all the difference!

When I get too busy, it pulls me out of step with Him. It’s like I am over here on my own while He is waiting patiently where I left Him.  I need Him to be with me at all times so I can say things like, “Thank You,” and “What are we going to do in this situation, God.”  If we practice His presence, He will be more real to us.

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         Psalms 73:28

·         Hebrews 10:22

·         James 4:8

Prayer Focus:

Tell your heavenly Father that you would like to spend time with Him today.  Thank Him for being with you.

Day 199  The Lord says, “It is I.”

Isaiah 52:6-7   (NIV1984)

Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. “Yes, it is I.”

I love it when God reveals Himself to me.  It’s so personal.  How about these?

That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you….”    (Genesis 26:24)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)  For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  (Vs. 13)

“…..He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!]”  (Hebrews 13:5 Amplified Bible)

That’s our Father!

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Genesis 28:15

·         Exodus 33:14

·         Matthew 28:20

Prayer Focus:

The above scriptures are the very nature and character of God.  It is His heart beat for you.  Thank Him for that in your own words.

Day 198   Joy and Gladness is Promised

Isaiah 51:3   (NIV1984)

The LORD will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

 
After reading this scripture, you might say, “I don’t think so.  So much has happened to me that I doubt that I will ever smile again.  I go to bed in sorrow and sorrow follows me everywhere during my day."

God’s word is always the final word…..on every situation!  As you look to this scripture and say, “Okay, God, I believe You.  Take me to that place of 'joy and gladness,” you can know that He “surely” will!!

Just as a comma in a sentence is a place to pause, the period follows at the end of the sentence to say, “It is finished.”  We may slow down at the “comma of life” but we do not stop until we get to the "period" where God has the last word.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Hebrews 12:2

·         Hebrews 10:23

·         Philippians 1:6  The Message Bible

Prayer Focus:

Ask God to take you by the hand at the “comma,” and lead you to the “period.”