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01-17-2008, 03:04 AM
"A Glad Heart"
“You have shown me the path of life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” — Psalm 16:11 CEV
What encouraging words these are! But you might say, "How can I be glad in the midst of the terrible situation I am facing?" I am not going to tell you that we don't face gloomy days, for they are part of life's pattern. Nevertheless we can be glad, when we remember that God is always near to us, ready to help
The book of Genesis tells us about Joseph. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers and finally sold as a slave to an Egyptian officer, yet he remained steadfast and did his work as well as possible. He was falsely accused by the officer's wife and thrown into prison. Even there, he remained calm and did not panic and become anxious or depressed. He helped fellow prisoners by interpreting their dreams for them and one of them promised to speak to the ruler about him. (Genesis 28 - 48) For many months the promise was forgotten, but Joseph worked hard and remained tranquil. When he was finally freed and became a powerful person, he treated his deceitful brothers fairly and said, "Don't worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives." (Genesis 45:5).
It takes faith to maintain a glad heart in the midst of trials, but when you have a regular time of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, God will strengthen you. He will guide you to an escape from your situation or he will give you the courage to go through it with a glad heart, knowing that he has a plan for your life.
Let us pray together the beautiful prayer of William Barclay:
"Lord, grant us in our work, satisfaction; in our study, wisdom; in our pleasure, gladness; in our love, loyalty." Amen.
“Prayerful Living”
“You have shown me the path of life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” — Psalm 16:11 CEV
What encouraging words these are! But you might say, "How can I be glad in the midst of the terrible situation I am facing?" I am not going to tell you that we don't face gloomy days, for they are part of life's pattern. Nevertheless we can be glad, when we remember that God is always near to us, ready to help
The book of Genesis tells us about Joseph. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers and finally sold as a slave to an Egyptian officer, yet he remained steadfast and did his work as well as possible. He was falsely accused by the officer's wife and thrown into prison. Even there, he remained calm and did not panic and become anxious or depressed. He helped fellow prisoners by interpreting their dreams for them and one of them promised to speak to the ruler about him. (Genesis 28 - 48) For many months the promise was forgotten, but Joseph worked hard and remained tranquil. When he was finally freed and became a powerful person, he treated his deceitful brothers fairly and said, "Don't worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives." (Genesis 45:5).
It takes faith to maintain a glad heart in the midst of trials, but when you have a regular time of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, God will strengthen you. He will guide you to an escape from your situation or he will give you the courage to go through it with a glad heart, knowing that he has a plan for your life.
Let us pray together the beautiful prayer of William Barclay:
"Lord, grant us in our work, satisfaction; in our study, wisdom; in our pleasure, gladness; in our love, loyalty." Amen.
“Prayerful Living”