Prayer
– Lord Jesus, You never compromised Your values. You always obediently did just
what the Father asked You to do. Getting up early to go chat and pray with Him.
Was that hard for You some days? Were You just bone tired and wanted to sleep
longer? You are a person of true integrity living the truth, the way, and the
life that God had shown You. Show us how to live consistently at that same
level of integrity—not compromising our values…Your values that have been
instilled in us with Your instruction to keep Your commandments. Fill me with
Your Holy Spirit that I would obediently live as I should. Don’t give up on me!
Joyful
are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are
those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not
compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to
keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with
your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by
living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! Psalm 119:1-8
Rise early in the morning...
chat and pray as Jesus did.
Please don't give up on me, Lord!
Meditate.
Consider Joy.
Are you a
joyful person?
Do you imagine Jesus as a joyful
person? We get a picture of Him healing people—touching the untouchables, raising the dead, feeding thousands, and putting up with the Pharisees testing and challenges. Where
or when do we see Jesus filled with joy? When the seventy-two disciples He had
sent out to minister to cities around Israel returned we read about His
reaction in Luke’s account.
At that same time Jesus was filled
with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, "O Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves
wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it
pleased you to do it this way." Luke
10:21
In the
book of Hebrews we also see joy associated with Jesus. He faced and endured the
agony of the cross for us knowing that He would have the joy of Heaven. We are
encouraged to keep Him in mind—focus on Him—as we proceed in this race of life
that is before us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every
weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And
let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping
our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because
of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he
is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:1-2
Do
you have the joy that Jesus had? Can you endure…and not compromise your values
as you go through life? The choice is yours.
Verse
of Salvation ~ With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! Isaiah 12:3
Be
Thankful with KINDNESS in Your Heart
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
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